The snow leopard is a majestic species of the big cat family that lives on higher elevations. Scientifically known as Uncia uncia, the carnivore stands on top of the food chain and plays an important role in maintaining the balance of mountain ecosystems.
The snow leopard is found in Central and South Asia and its habitat is restricted to Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Myanmar. In Pakistan, the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountain ranges serve as its potential habitat spreading over an area of 81,000 sq km.
View of the Hindu Kush mountain range
The Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountain ranges serve as its potential habitat
Snow leopards used to be found in great numbers but its population was severely affected due to human-led activities, and has an estimated global population of less than 2,500 mature breeding males. In Pakistan, the species face multiple threats such as habitat degradation, scarcity of prey and human-snow leopard conflict and climate change, thus negatively impacting its population. Keeping in view these issues, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the species as endangered in its Red List of Mammals.
Global issues such as climate change and global warming are also posing a significant threat to the survival of snow leopards in Pakistan, especially as the snow leopard prefers to stay above the snowline, whereas, increasing temperatures are leading to the melting of glaciers at a very fast pace, thus shrinking its habitat. This upward trend lures herders to move their livestock to new grazing areas, eventually leading to human-snow leopard conflict. Furthermore, prolonged summers are another issue, as herders prefer to stay in the fields for longer durations which further deteriorate the habitat of the snow leopard and its prey.
A study conducted by Rasul et al. in 2006 revealed that snowline has shifted up by about 1 km during the last 25 years. The study further showed that higher temperatures are triggering snow melt and thus floods downstream and leading to the melting of lower elevations glaciers at a faster pace, resulting into Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). As expected, this shift has also affected the biodiversity of the region.
Snow leopards are scientifically known as Uncia Uncia - Courtesy Klein & Hubert / WWF
Climate change and global warming also pose a threat to their survival
Keeping in view the various threats the snow leopard faces, national and international laws prohibit its trade. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has termed it illegal to transport any snow leopard parts across international borders. Countries such as the United States (US) have also framed tough laws, as attempting to import a snow leopard hide to the US is punishable with a fine of up to $25,000, whereas Nepal jails offenders for five to fifteen years.
Snow leopards in Pakistan face the biggest threat from herders who kill the big cat in retaliation to loss of livestock. These herders simply do not realize that they graze their livestock in the habitat of the snow leopard and must be informed that they can avoid conflicts by leading their herders to graze in other locations. Experts are of the view that the majority of livestock dies from diseases and lack of vaccinations rather than snow leopard attacks, even in villages located within the prime snow leopard habitat. Therefore predation by snow leopards should hardly become the reason behind human-snow leopard conflict.
Under threat from herders
Snowline has shifted up by about 1 km during the last 25 years
WWF-Pakistan, in order to highlight the ecological importance of the snow leopard among local communities, organizes capacity building workshops, seminars and discussions so that communities are sensitized and human-snow leopard conflict is reduced. According to Babar Khan, Senior Manager, WWF-Pakistan, ‘Snow leopards lie on top of the food chain and hold immense importance for local communities, as they help to maintain the population of wildlife such as markhor and urial, which is beneficial because of the trophy hunting initiative. The threats that snow leopards face such as habitat degradation, poaching, human-snow leopard conflict are all man-made and should be dealt with accordingly.’
Ahuman-wildlife conflict study conducted by WWF-Pakistan in 2014 revealed that livestock depredation by snow leopards in the last five years in Hoper Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chamarkhan Gol and Rumboor Valley, Chitral district showed 1,467, 158 and 122 kills of domestic animals respectively. Moreover, the population census in the study shows that one to two snow leopards lie per sq. kilometer (km) in Hoper Valley, GB and Laspor and Rumboor, Chitral. Experts regard the population density to be very low as it should be around 10-12 per sq. km. The prey of snow leopard such as the Himalayan ibex and markhor are in abundance due to the trickling benefits of trophy hunting but threats to the snow leopard are still present as a result of increased anthropogenic activities.
Snow leopard population severely affected due to human-led activities - Courtesy: Fritz Polking / WWF
Snow leopards in Pakistan face the biggest threat from herders
Therefore, in order to reduce human-snow leopard conflict, WWF-Pakistan as part of its projects Asia’s High Mountain Project (AHMP) and Social, Economic and Environmental Development (SEED) has introduced livestock insurance schemes so that communities affected from snow leopard predation can get compensation. Furthermore, livestock vaccination schemes have also been introduced to control the transmission of diseases from domestic to wild animals and through predator-proof cattle sheds, efforts are being made to reduce snow leopard attacks on livestock.
Conservation of snow leopards can only be carried out if communities cooperate. Therefore, the local community should be encouraged to act as custodians of this majestic species which never intends to harm them but their ignorance is leading to its demise. Through eco-tourism, snow leopard conservation can be promoted effectively as it will benefit communities.
Today, communities have started to realize the ecological importance of the snow leopard and through the help of community based organizations (CBOs) much needed awareness is being created.
One to two snow leopards lie per sq km in Hoper Valley - Courtesy: Zahoor Salimi / WWF-Pakistan
"Snow leopards lie on top of the food chain and hold immense importance for local communities"
According to Ghulam Abbas, Vice Chairman, Hoper Conservation and Development Organization, Hoper Valley, GB, “Communities have started to realize the importance of this species and they understand its role in the ecosystem. Moreover, through livestock insurance schemes, people are being compensated for loss of livestock due to snow leopard predation. In Hoper Valley almost every household which has livestock heads in the pastures suffers loss of two to three animals every year. Since grazing is their only livelihood they are seriously affected from snow leopard attacks. However, communities aren’t compensated fully for their loss, but it helps to prevent human-snow leopard conflict.”
Last chance to protect snow leopards
Yala Glacier, Langtang Valley; the lake in the foreground is evidence of glacial retreat
Their conservation can only be carried out if communities cooperate
Extensive research is the need of the hour to understand the threats snow leopards face, and therefore the government should take a step forward in providing incentives to communities in the form of livestock compensation schemes on a bigger scale, which can also contribute towards the formulation of human-snow leopard conflict mitigation plans. They should also formulate a snow leopard conservation plan at the local, district, provincial and national level which can help in restoring its lost population. All that is required is devotion to protect the species – when people of this country don’t know much about it, they should be told about the wonderful biodiversity that exists here. We just have one last chance to protect snow leopards before they become extinct. If this they die out, only then will we realize what we have done to this country but it would be too late as we’ll have no other option but to commemorate them, as we commemorate tigers which ceased to exist in the region in late 18th century.
The writer is a freelance journalist. He tweets at @SyedMAbubakar and can be reached at s.m.abubakar@hotmail.com
