The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) inhabits some of the world's harshest mountain environments across Central and South Asia. While listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List with approximately 4,000-6,500 individuals, retaliatory killing by herders remains one of the primary causes of preventable mortality.
Snow leopards killed in retaliation die from trapping, snaring, or shooting — all methods causing significant suffering. Trap-caught individuals may wait days before the trapper returns. Cubs of killed females face starvation in remote, high-altitude terrain where rescue is logistically extremely difficult. In captivity for rehabilitation, snow leopards require extremely large enclosures at high altitude temperatures, specialised high-protein diets, and minimal human contact for release suitability. Conflict prevention — the gold standard approach — eliminates the welfare cost to both leopards and livestock.