These beautiful and amazing animals
need our help.
Researchers estimate that there are only about 3000 -7500
snow leopards left in the wild. No one has an exact count
because Snow Leopards are so elusive and inhabit such
harsh and remote habitat that they are rarely seen. Their
numbers are threatened by a number of factors, including
poaching, loss of habitat and prey, and hunting by herders
in retribution for killing their livestock. They have
already disapeared from some areas where they formerly
lived,
such as parts of Mongolia.
The Snow Leopard Trust is working with governments in
snow leopard countries to strengthen conservation policies
and programs. Most importantly, the Trust works with local
communities and herders on reducing conflict between people
and snow leopards. They help them find ways of limiting
livestock loss, and offer them opportunities to increase
their income by helping them market handcrafts in return
for a
commitment to conservation.
Click on this link to view the
Trusts philosophy on snow leopard conservation, and read
about the programs they have initiated. Snow
Leopard Trust
Please contact the Zoo if you would like to make
a donation to this worthy cause.
