Snow Leopard

The snow leopard’s habitat range extends across the mountainous regions of 12 countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.  The snow leopard prefers steep, rugged terrain with rocky outcrops where prey can be sparse, a reason these cats require an enormous amount of space to roam.  Male leopards require up to 80 square miles, whereas females have ranges of up to 48 square miles.

The three most important prey species for snow leopards are the blue sheep (also known as bharal), the Asiatic ibex (a large wild goat), and the argali sheep. The cats also feed on smaller mammals, such as marmots, pikas, and hares.  Availability of wild prey is the most important factor that determines if an area is suitable for the cats.

Poaching, habitat loss, climate change, decline in natural prey species, and retaliatory killings by locals when the cats prey on livestock are the main threats to the snow leopard’s survival.

Snow leopards are not only killed for their beautiful fur, but also for their bones and other body parts that are used in traditional medicine. Increased human intrusion into mountain ecosystems from the construction of highways, ski resorts, and other infrastructure projects pose a huge threat to snow leopards, causing habitat fragmentation and disturbances.

The climate crisis, perhaps the greatest long-term threat, is another contributing factor to dwindling populations. Rising temperatures in the mountains affect the entire ecosystem, threatening to further shrink the species’ alpine habitat and make it unusable.

Finally, the high mortality rate among young leopards remains a critical concern. Without the expansion of protected areas, juvenile leopards are forced to migrate to neighboring countries, increasing the likelihood of human-wildlife conflicts. To mitigate this issue,  Kazakhstan offers financial compensation to herders whose livestock is attacked, thereby reducing the retaliatory killing of these endangered predators.

Thanks to advances in technology, scientists and researchers have narrowed knowledge gaps about the snow leopard. Camera traps in particular have allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of snow leopard distribution and ecology across its range.  Anti-poaching programs, community education, establishment of protected areas, and development of community-led snow leopard conservation strategies are among measures that have been introduced to protect the big cats.

Enhancing regional conservation initiatives through transboundary cooperation is another crucial component for protecting these majestic predators. In October 2024, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at conserving snow leopards and their habitats in the northern Tien Shan Mountains within four specially protected nature areas of both countries.

A number of international organizations dedicated to snow leopard conservation have been established, among them the Snow Leopard Network and Snow Leopard Conservancy.

The snow leopard is one of Kazakhstan’s rarest animals and a national symbol. Populations are scattered, stretching from high, rugged mountain range habitats in the east (administrative regions of East Kazakhstan and Almaty) to the south (administrative regions of Zhambyl and South Kazakhstan), complicating the calculation of an accurate population count. Estimates place the number of snow leopards in Kazakhstan at 152-189 individual cats, according to data from the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. These recent numbers represent an encouraging sign for conservation, showing a more than 26 percent increase of the population since 2019 and a doubling of the population over the past 30 years.   Estimates place the number of snow leopards in Kazakhstan at 140-180 individual cats. The snow leopard has been included in the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Red Book since its first edition, published in 1978.

With its plentiful prey base of ungulates, effective protection, and minimal human interference, there is a flourishing population of these cats in Altyn Emel National Park. Other key habitats include Ile-Alatau National Park and the Katon-Karagai Reserve. Efforts are underway to establish new protected areas, such as the Merken Regional Park in Zhambyl Oblast.

Non-governmental, state scientific, and government organizations share responsibilities for studying and protecting Kazakhstan’s snow leopard population. Specifically, these include the Kazakhstan Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity (NGO) and various institutes and committees of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Ongoing work has achieved some success, notably in reducing poaching and illegal trade of snow leopards, which flourished in Kazakhstan in the 1900s and early 2000s.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is also engaged in identifying best methods and supplying equipment for monitoring snow leopards and its prey species, decisions that are critical for obtaining accurate data on the animals and state of ecosystems. Since 2018, UNDP has deployed nearly 300 camera traps to monitor snow leopards and other wildlife, along with quadcopters, smartphones, and thermal imagers in specially protected natural areas.