SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS 2017

The WWF Asia High Mountains (AHM) Project has implemented population surveys, GPS collaring, and community-led conservation initiatives to protect snow leopards and their habitats. Key achievements include the first population surveys in Bhutan's Wangchuck Centennial National Park and North Sikkim, India, and the collaring of four snow leopards in Nepal to track transboundary movements. The project also addressed threats through a national jaw-trap removal campaign in Mongolia and the installation of predator-proof corrals in Pakistan. Globally, the project supported the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) and a TRAFFIC report which found that over 150 snow leopards are poached weekly, with 55% of poaching occurring in five of the twelve range countries.

• A TRAFFIC report analyzing snow leopard crime from 2003-2016 found that more than 150 snow leopards are poached every week on average, and 55% of reported poaching occurred in five of the twelve range countries. Additionally, 90% of snow leopards killed are victims of retaliatory killings for attacks on livestock.
• In Bhutan, the first population survey of Wangchuck Centennial National Park estimated a population of 15 snow leopards. The survey also captured the first image of a Pallas’ cat in Bhutan and images of common leopards in high altitude areas, which may indicate movement into snow leopard habitat due to climate change.
• In India's North Sikkim District, camera trap surveys established the first baseline count for the local snow leopard population, identifying five unique individuals. Subsequent surveys in 2016 recorded seven snow leopard individuals, 85 Tibetan argali, and 70 blue sheep, while also documenting stray dogs, indicating a need for feral dog control policies.
• In Mongolia, a trap exchange campaign led by school eco-club members resulted in the collection of 234 jaw traps from local herders. This initiative was later scaled to a national level to protect wildlife from maiming, as evidenced by camera trap footage of snow leopards with steel jaw traps.
• In Pakistan, conservation efforts in the Hoper Valley and Gilgit-Baltistan included the use of 18 citizen scientists for surveys and the installation of predator-proof corrals to reduce human-snow leopard conflict. A social survey in Khunjerab and Central Karakorum National Parks indicated a decline in snow leopard killings since 2013.
• In Nepal's Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, four snow leopards were GPS collared between 2013 and 2017. Data revealed that snow leopards regularly cross borders between Nepal, India, and China, with one individual reaching a documented altitude of 5,859 m (19,222 ft.), the highest recorded across the 12-nation range.

APA

WWF International (2017). SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS 2017. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/739/5mjg5tbys_Snow_Leopard_Conservation_Highlights.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS 2017. 2017. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/739/5mjg5tbys_Snow_Leopard_Conservation_Highlights.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS 2017 |date=August 2017 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/739/5mjg5tbys_Snow_Leopard_Conservation_Highlights.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2017snow, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS 2017}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2017}, month = aug, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/739/5mjg5tbys_Snow_Leopard_Conservation_Highlights.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }