Snow Leopard Trust’s citizen-ranger program in Kyrgyzstan has been crucial in combating illegal wildlife trade. Building on this success, we are expanding the program to Mongolia and Pakistan to protect even more snow leopards across their vast habitat.
Thanks to your support of our Long-term Ecological Study, (the first of its kind for snow leopards!), we are building a more comprehensive understanding of snow leopard ecology and behavior. This vital research provides insight into the threats they face and guides conservation policies to ensure the snow leopard’s future. Today, we know more about what these endangered animals need to survive and thrive than ever before.
When we first saw Presnel on our research cameras in 2014, she was a fluffy cub trailing her mother in the wilds of Mongolia. Unexpectedly, she turned her little head to peer into the camera lens and in that moment, walked right into our hearts. Presnel is just one of many wild snow leopards you are helping us protect.
You may have seen recent international news coverage reporting that Mongolia is experiencing some of its most extreme winter weather conditions now extending into spring. Deep snow and ice have covered grazing areas, creating catastrophic challenges affecting hundreds of thousands of people and millions of livestock.
During the ongoing Women’s History Month, we’re featuring a paper by snow leopard researchers that explores the role of women in snow leopard conservation in the high mountains of Asia.
A new paper by Snow Leopard Trust scientists shows how dispersing young snow leopards can navigate and travel long distances in flat terrain in search of territories. It also reveals what triggers them to set out and how fences and linear infrastructure can disrupt their movements.
Thank you to all who took part in our week of action to celebrate International Snow Leopard Day last October. Since then, nearly 14,000 of you signed a petition asking leaders to protect snow leopards by prioritizing climate adaptation programs across their habitat. This weekend, we will share your calls to action during the 13th annual Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Our colleague, Deepshikha Sharma, from Snow Leopard Trust’s India Program based at the Nature Conservation Foundation, has been working to strengthen the connections between people and snow leopards for many years. Thanks to a Conservation Nation Fellowship, made possible with the support of Catmosphere.org, she is currently leading a project to develop the first team of local women champions conducting science-based snow leopard conservation in India.
It’s that time of year again in the high mountains of Central Asia. No, not Valentine’s Day but something similar in the big cat world. It’s snow leopard mating season. And a bit more than three months later comes snow leopard cub season. How does the mythical ghost of the mountain compare to other big cats when it comes to love and family? We asked Senior Scientist Dr. Örjan Johansson and Assistant Director of Science Dr. Gustaf Samelius to share some of their insights into snow leopard mating habits and reproduction.
As part of our long-term efforts to track and better understand snow leopards and their prey, we are currently following four GPS-collared cats. Since 2009, we have tracked a total of 37 snow leopards in this protected area.
