As the world celebrated International Snow Leopard Day on Thursday, Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the endangered snow leopard and the fragile high-altitude ecosystems that support it.
“Together with mountain communities, scientists and conservation partners, Pakistan is committed to ensuring that the snow leopard continues to thrive as a symbol of resilience and ecological balance in our high mountains,” said Saleem Shaikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, highlighting the government’s determination to safeguard the species and its mountain habitat in collaboration with all stakeholders.
Globally, the snow leopard population is estimated at between 3,500 and 7,000 individuals spread across 12 countries in Central and South Asia, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Given the species’ transboundary range, regional cooperation remains vital for its long-term survival, including through data sharing, joint research and coordinated action to combat poaching and other human-caused threats.
Celebrated every year on October 23, the theme of International Snow Leopard Day this year is “Safeguarding Snow Leopard Habitats for Future Generations” to raise awareness about the endangered species. This is an opportunity for governments and conservationists to galvanize local communities into collective action for the protection of snow leopards.
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With an estimated population of 155 to 167 snow leopards according to the latest national survey, Pakistan is an active member of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP), under which all 12 range countries are united in efforts to secure snow leopard habitats and promote sustainable development in the high mountains from Asia.
Here, snow leopards are distributed over 80,000 square kilometers across the Hindu Kush, Pamir, Karakoram and the Himalayan mountain ranges of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Found mainly in Chitral, northern KP and Britain, they face increasing threats from climate change and human activities.
The recent survey by the Snow Leopard Trust and Snow Leopard Foundation Pakistan established the first reliable baseline for the population of this elusive mountain cat, with estimates ranging from 155 to 167, along the country’s alpine terrain.
From 2010 to 2023, wildlife teams and scientists deployed 828 motion-sensing cameras across approximately 39% of the snow leopard’s range in northern Pakistan. The cameras, placed in remote valleys, steep ridges and extreme altitudes where snow leopards thrive, produced more than 4,700 images. Images were collected from 65 locations and identified 53 individuals. Using spatial capture-recapture modeling, conservation teams estimated a population of approximately 155 individuals, or an average of 0.16 animals per 100 square kilometers.
Simultaneously, from 2017 to 2023, the team collected more than 1,000 suspected snow leopard scats along high-altitude transects. DNA testing confirmed that 235 of them belonged to snow leopards, and a genetic SNP panel revealed 56 unique individuals. This genetic dataset suggested a population estimate of 167 animals, with a 95% confidence range of 128 to 220.
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The fact that the camera-based and genetic methods, entirely independent and using different data, produced similar estimates adds confidence in the results.
Pakistan occupies a unique position for the species. Its northern mountain ranges, the Hindu Kush, Pamir, Karakoram and Himalaya, converge and form one of the most challenging habitats on the planet. Until recently, estimates of the country’s snow leopard population ranged widely, from 200 to 420, mostly guesswork due to the animal’s elusive habits and rugged terrain. Even in strong areas such as the Karakoram and Pamir region, densities remain low and animals face increasing risks: melting glaciers, changing snow patterns, habitat fragmentation, increasing human-livestock conflicts and declining prey populations.
“Warming temperatures, glacier retreat and vegetation changes are steadily reducing the species’ alpine habitat,” Shaikh said. Apart from this, “overgrazing, depletion of prey species such as ibex and markhor, illegal hunting and retaliatory killings continue to undermine conservation efforts”, he added.
Infrastructure expansion, mining and unregulated tourism in fragile mountain ecosystems have further fragmented the snow leopard’s range, according to Shaikh. “Climate-induced habitat changes are now pushing these cats closer to human settlements, increasing the risk of conflict and poaching.”
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The estimated Snow Leopard population figures, based on advanced camera trap monitoring and field data, provide a strong baseline for developing targeted conservation plans, according to Dr Nawaz, who led the Pakistan research team in carrying out the survey in collaboration with the Snow Leopard Trust.
“Ensuring effective enforcement of wildlife protection laws, responsible and eco-friendly tourism and climate-resilient development in high-altitude regions must remain a national priority,” Shaikh said.
Similarly, Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Shezra Mansab Kharal, emphasized that protecting the snow leopard means protecting the mountains themselves as well as the people, wildlife and water resources that depend on them.
Key future conservation actions include strengthening protected habitats, engaging local communities and promoting regional cooperation across the high mountains.
However, interventions on the ground are not enough, according to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate. “Awareness and advocacy campaigns in mountain communities can reduce retaliatory killings and promote coexistence through livestock insurance programs, predator-proof corrals, and community-based ecotourism. »
The Ministry of Climate has carried out awareness campaigns aimed at youth engagement, sustainable tourism and the fight against poaching.
Highlighting other ongoing initiatives, Shaikh said the Ministry of Climate is implementing several projects such as the Snow Leopard program and ecosystem protection, in line with GSLEP commitments. Additionally, the ministry strengthens community conservation in Britain and Chitral in partnership with local and international organizations. These projects provide compensation and alternative livelihoods to herders to combat human threats to snow leopards and support their long-term survival.
“These programs have already started to produce positive results by reducing human-wildlife conflicts and improving monitoring capacity in key habitats,” Shaikh said, insisting that policy changes and public awareness must go hand in hand. “Conservation success depends on both effective governance and community ownership. »
With fewer than 200 individuals estimated nationally, Pakistan’s snow leopard population is alarming, but for the first time it is clearly understood, laying the foundation for long-term protection and monitoring.
