Save our snow leopards

With its thick patterned fur, extra-large paws and unusually long tail, the elusive snow leopard is highly adapted to the cold, mountainous terrains of Central Asia. They’ve thrived here for hundreds of thousands of years, hunting wild animals and patrolling their enormous home range in search of mates. At least, this was the case until the species came under grave threat from habitat loss and fragmentation due to mining and development across the region. There could now be as few as 4000 snow leopards in the wild. 

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The Tost region in South Gobi, Mongolia is one of the most important snow leopard habitats in the world. Here, as in all the areas snow leopards live, the species faces huge challenges. Mining, both illegal and legal, are prevalent in the region. As their habitat reduces, the big cats are forced into closer quarters with humans, exposing them to further risk of poaching and persecution from herders who fear for their livestock.  

But there is hope. We’ve committed to support an innovative project in the Tost region for five years, investing £100,000 in the conservation of this unique and incredible species.

Working together with government and the local community, our team, led by Bayara Agvaantseren, has had remarkable success in founding the Tost Nature Reserve, a clearly delineated area in which legal mining no longer takes place. However, poaching still occurs within the protected area, mainly for the snow leopards’ fur and their bones, which are used in traditional medicine. We are funding locals to be trained as professional park rangers, who will play a critical role in tracking these majestic animals to protect them from poachers. Using GPS collars, rangers are able to collect information about snow leopards whereabouts to monitor their movements and ensure no one harms them.  

Help us track snow leopards with a donation today

Video credit: Milan Matschke Shutterstock