Snow leopards share mountain landscapes with herding communities whose livestock are vulnerable to predation, creating conflict that threatens both snow leopard survival and local livelihoods across Central Asia.
Snow leopards killed in retaliation suffer often-prolonged deaths through poisoning, trapping, or shooting. Snares intended for other animals injure and trap snow leopards, causing pain and distress before death or rescue. Beyond individual welfare, population-level pressure from retaliatory killing fragments already small and isolated mountain populations. Coexistence programs that address the economic root cause of conflict — livestock loss — are the most effective welfare intervention at both individual and population scales. Predator-proof livestock corrals, livestock insurance schemes, and community-based conservation employment have demonstrated success in reducing killing while supporting livelihoods.