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WILDLIFE: Increasing threats to snow leopard
The snow leopard, one of the most endangered big cats in the world with an estimated population of only 4000-7000, is being severely threatened by illegal killing and trade, according to a new study. TRAFFIC, WWF and the International Snow Leopard Trust are calling for urgent action to strengthen enforcement and management of snow leopard conservation efforts and to address the root causes of illegal killing and the continuing trade in the cats and their parts.
Available estimates indicate a dramatic decline in snow leopard populations. For example, in the late 1980s, two of the range States, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, were estimated to have a population of 1200-2400 animals. Today as few as 150-200 mature individuals are thought to remain in Kyrgyzstan.
In Pakistan, its habitat is spread all over the Northern Areas and the mountainous parts of NWFP: its numbers, however, are limited. In 1994, the Forest Department estimated that there were about 260 snow leopards left in the Northern Areas. The snow leopard enjoys protected status in Pakistan. It is illegal to hunt it, except in self-defence; a person found in possession of the body of a snow leopard, or any of its parts, can be imprisoned for up to two years, or fined Rs1,000, or both.
The study by TRAFFIC shows that the driving forces behind the illegal killing of snow leopards vary from region to region, with the species and its parts being traded in all 12 range states (with the possible exception of Bhutan).
This is despite the fact that killing and trade is prohibited in most of the range states and the species is listed in CITES, which prohibits all commercial international trade of the animal.
The results of the report clearly show that killing for trade is the biggest threat to snow leopards in the central Asian region and the Russian Federation. In the Himalayan region the main threat identified is conflict between snow leopards and herders, who kill the cats to protect their livestock, but the parts then often end up in trade.
“There is an urgent need for range states of the snow leopard (Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajkistan, Uzbekistan) to address the gaps in their legislation for snow leopards and increase their enforcement efforts. For example, by enhancing anti-poaching activities where trade is the most prominent threat,” said Stephanie Theile, of TRAFFIC Europe and the author of the report. “It is also vital to provide economic incentives for snow leopard conservation to the herders who live in the animal’s range. For example, schemes should be developed for alternative sources of income and improving herding practices to reduce conflict situations between the local communities and snow leopards.”
The report also shows that a portion of the goods from trade in snow leopards and their parts end up in non-range regions, such as Europe and the Middle East.
Foreign visitors in the range states, including tourists and military personnel, form another distinct group that purchase snow leopards’ parts. Pelts are the main product in demand, with prices ranging from tens of US dollars, as reported by hunters in Nepal, to thousands of US dollars, as reported on the black market in Kazakhstan.
The report indicates that illegal trade also occurs in live snow leopards and other body parts such as teeth, nails, meat, as well as bone, which is feeding into traditional Asian medicine markets, but on a much smaller scale.
“It is plainly not acceptable that the killing of these highly endangered species continues into the 21st century,” said Dr Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF-International’s Species Programme. “WWF is therefore taking active steps to address the rising level of threat to snow leopards. In Mongolia, for example, WWF supports Snow Leopard Enterprises, a non-profit handicraft enterprise founded by the International Snow Leopard Trust, offering herders an opportunity to increase their income in return for protecting the snow leopard. WWF Mongolia has also initiated an anti-poaching team.”
A groundbreaking global initiative to improve snow leopard conservation is under way through development of the Snow Leopard Survival Strategy. “More than 70 conservationists from 18 countries helped develop the strategy — providing us with a clear plan to ensure the survival of the snow leopard,” reported the Executive Director of the International Snow Leopard Trust. “The co-operative spirit among snow leopard researchers and conservationists is what gives me hope we can save these amazing cats.”
TRAFFIC, WWF and the International Snow Leopard Trust believe concerted global conservation efforts will help ensure survival of this highly endangered species, and achieve long-term solutions for sustainable livelihoods of those local communities in the range states who coexist with the snow leopard.
The organizations
TRAFFIC: The wildlife trade monitoring network, which works to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. It works in co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). TRAFFIC is a joint programme of WWF and IUCN-The World Conservation Union.
WWF: This conservation organization takes action to conserve endangered species, protect endangered spaces and address global threats, by seeking long term solutions.
International Snow Leopard Trust: The International Snow Leopard Trust is dedicated to the conservation of the endangered snow leopard and its mountain ecosystem through a balanced approach that addresses the needs of local people and the environment.
CITES: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) regulates international trade in more than 30,000 species of wild animals and plants. The Convention is currently applied in 163 nations.
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