The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is Mongolia's iconic mountain predator. Understanding the welfare challenges facing this elusive cat in its harsh environment guides effective conservation.
Wild snow leopards face welfare challenges rooted in their isolation and the harshness of their mountain environment. During severe Mongolian winters, prey becomes scarce and cats must extend their ranges and hunting effort. Livestock predation — often a sign of prey depletion or difficult hunting conditions — provokes retaliatory killing that represents the primary direct welfare threat to individual snow leopards. GPS collar research has revealed that many snow leopards carry old injury scars from snares, falling, or prey encounters. Community-based conservation programs that provide herder compensation for livestock losses dramatically reduce retaliatory killing while preserving snow leopard welfare. Camera trap data allows individual identification and monitoring of body condition as a welfare indicator.