As the world marked 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 Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination spokesperson Saleem Shaikh, underlining the government’s determination to safeguard the species and its mountain habitat in collaboration with all interested parties.
Globally, the snow leopard population is estimated at between 3,500 and 7,000 individuals in 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 distribution, regional cooperation remains vital for its long-term survival, particularly through data sharing, joint research and coordinated action to curb poaching and other human-induced threats.
The theme of International Snow Leopard Day, celebrated annually on October 23, this year is “Safeguarding snow leopard habitats for future generations”, to raise awareness about the endangered species. It 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 as per 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 of Asia.
Here, snow leopards range across 80,000 square kilometers across the Hindu Kush, Pamir, Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. They are mainly found in Chitral, northern KP and GB, and face increasing threats from both climate change and human activities.
The recent survey by the Snow Leopard Trust and Snow Leopard Foundation Pakistan established the first reliable reference population for the elusive wildcat, with estimates ranging between 155 and 167, across the country’s alpine terrain.
From 2010 to 2023, wildlife teams and scientists deployed 828 motion-sensing cameras across approximately 39 percent of the snow leopard’s range in northern Pakistan. The cameras, located in remote valleys, steep ridges and extreme altitudes, where snow leopards thrive, produced more than 4,700 images. The images were collected from 65 locations and identified 53 people. Using spatial capture-recapture models, conservation teams estimated a population of around 155 individuals, with 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 SNP genetic panel revealed 56 unique individuals. That genetic data set suggested a population estimate of 167 animals, with a 95% confidence range between 128 and 220.
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The fact that both the genetic and camera-based methods, completely independent and using different data, produced similar estimates strengthens confidence in the findings.
Pakistan occupies a unique place for the species. Its northern mountain ranges, the Hindu Kush, the Pamirs, the Karakoram and the Himalayas, converge and form one of the most challenging habitats on Earth. Until recently, estimates of the country’s snow leopard population varied widely, from 200 to 420, mostly guesswork due to the animal’s elusive habits and rugged terrain. Even in stronghold areas like the Karakoram-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.
“Rising temperatures, retreating glaciers and changes in vegetation patterns are steadily reducing the species’ alpine habitat,” Shaikh said. Apart from that, “overgrazing, depletion of prey species such as ibex and markhor, illegal hunting and retaliatory killings continue to undermine conservation efforts,” he added.
According to Shaikh, the expansion of infrastructure, mining and unregulated tourism in fragile mountain ecosystems has further fragmented the snow leopard’s distribution. “Climate-induced habitat changes are forcing these cats closer to human settlements, increasing the risk of conflict and poaching.”
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The estimated snow leopard population numbers, based on field data and advanced camera trap monitoring, provide a solid basis for developing specific conservation plans, according to Dr Nawaz, who led Pakistan’s research team when it conducted the survey in collaboration with the Snow Leopard Trust.
“Ensuring effective enforcement of wildlife protection laws, responsible and environmentally sustainable 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 noted that protecting the snow leopard means protecting the mountains themselves and the people, wildlife and water resources that depend on them.
Key conservation actions ahead include strengthening protected habitats, engaging local communities and fostering regional cooperation in the high mountains.
However, interventions on the ground are not enough, according to the Climate Ministry spokesperson. “Awareness and advocacy campaigns in mountain communities can reduce retaliatory killings and promote coexistence through livestock insurance schemes, predator-proof pens and community-based ecotourism.”
The Ministry of Climate has carried out awareness campaigns aimed at youth participation, sustainable tourism and the fight against poaching.
Outlining other ongoing initiatives, Shaikh said the Climate Ministry is implementing several projects, such as the Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme, in line with GSLEP commitments. Additionally, the ministry is strengthening community conservation in GB and Chitral in partnership with local and international organizations. These projects provide compensation and alternative livelihoods to herders to address 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 nationwide, Pakistan’s snow leopard population is alarmingly small, but for the first time it is clearly understood, laying the foundation for long-term protection and monitoring.
