Snow leopards on verge of extinction

Islamabad: Habitat degradation, reduction of natural prey due to illegal hunting and retribution killing for livestock loss were among major threats that have brought snow leopards to near extinction.
The experts said glacial area in Pakistan’s north is spread over 16,933 square kilometres, which provides remarkable habitat for the endangered snow leopard but these habitats are vanishing due to rapidly melting glaciers as average temperature in the northern parts is increasing day by day.
They said a big part of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) strategy would be focused on educating rural mountain and herder communities about the need to protect snow leopards, engaging them in conservation efforts and helping them have sustainable livelihoods to prevent an overlap in food sources.
“Snow leopards typically hunt wild prey like Argali sheep for food. Since local communities and herders also hunt the same animals, snow leopards attack local livestock — sheep, goats, and yak calves, for example — to compensate.” they said.
They said the locals kill snow leopards to protect their livestock and growing human settlements also cut into these animals’ natural habitats, leaving them with lesser space to live and hunt.