Global Wildlife

Snow Leopard High Altitude Conservation

The snow leopard lives across the high mountain ranges of Central Asia, with a population of around 4,000 individuals threatened by poaching, retaliatory killing and climate change.

Key Facts

Snow leopards inhabit some of Earth's most remote and rugged terrain at 3,000-5,500m
Global population estimated at 4,000-7,000, declining in some areas
Cannot roar - belongs to a separate genus from other big cats
Prey on blue sheep, ibex and yak, sometimes taking domestic livestock
Climate change is reducing prey habitat in high alpine zones

Welfare Considerations

Snow leopard conservation must address retaliatory killing following livestock depredation. Livestock insurance programmes reduce the financial incentive for farmers to kill snow leopards. Climate change threats to alpine ecosystems require policy responses at national and international levels.

What You Can Do

Support Snow Leopard Trust programmes including livestock insurance schemes
Avoid purchasing snow leopard pelts and products
Advocate for climate action to protect high-altitude wildlife habitats