The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) is classified as globally endangered by the IUCN red list (19). This charasmatic cat is a keystone species in it's habitat and it's presence reflects on a healthy ecosystem system (15). The Snow Leopard has also become a symbol of conserving the mountain habitats and everything they represent (18).
Threats:
- Habitat degradation and fragmentation
- Poaching for pelts and bones
- Killing in retribution for killed livestock
- Reduction of natural prey populations due to illegal and legal hunting (trophy hunting of the Blue Sheep)
- Competition from livestock for the grazing lands of the Snow Leopards Prey (18)
Conservation Efforts:
- Conservation Areas and Regulations
- Improvement of livestock housing to limit livestock deaths, retribution kills and competition from livestock.
- Compensation Schemes for lost livestock (18)