A landmark survey carried out by the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) has revealed that only 167 snow leopards remain in Pakistan, across its rugged northern mountain ranges. The Express Tribune
Researchers used high-tech camera traps and genetic testing over more than 40,000 km² of habitat—marking Pakistan’s first scientific nationwide survey of the species. Snow Leopard Trust
Key Findings & Threats
- The team deployed over 1,000 cameras and collected 1,200 genetic samples between 2010 and 2019. Snow Leopard Trust
- Major threats now facing snow leopards in Pakistan include climate change, poaching, habitat fragmentation, and rising conflict with local herders. Frontiers
- Climate shifts are reducing snowfall and forcing habitat change—making leopards more likely to prey on livestock, which in turn triggers retaliation killings by farmers.
Why the Survey Matters
The snow leopard is a keystone species in Pakistan’s high-altitude ecosystems, which supply water to millions downstream. Its decline signals serious ecological distress. Snow Leopard Trust
With only 167 individuals estimated—far lower than previous guesswork ranges of 200–420—the need for urgent conservation action is clear.
Conservation Actions & What Comes Next
Conservation groups are calling for:
- Expansion of predator-proof corrals and livestock insurance to reduce retaliation killings.
- Strengthened habitat protection and monitoring programmes to track population changes.
- Climate-resilient ecosystem management across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
Pakistan now stands at a critical moment where safeguarding the snow leopard isn’t just a wildlife issue—it’s a question of mountain-ecosystem health, water security and national heritage.
