Despite the fact that snow leopards have been classified as critically endangered species, there does not seem to be any legal protection given to these animals against extreme hunting and poaching. Why are Snow Leopards Important? This leaves the snow leopard with little choice but to prey on the domestic livestock for their own survival. Species.”. Humans have pushed ever further with their livestock into the snow leopard’s habitat. Home        Save Snow Leopards        Unlike other large cats, snow leopards cannot roar. Snow leopards also lack the protection of the law because they inhabit isolated peaks which are difficult for police. Snow Leopards 101 Snow leopards—one of the world’s most elusive cats—are perfectly equipped to thrive in extreme, high-elevation habitats. The snow leopard weighs 60-120 pounds as a fully growing adult and is up to 5 feet in length with a 3-foot long tail. Snow Leopard: A Beautiful Yet Endangered Species, Barren Mountains, shrinking natural habitats, Endangered Animals of India - With Pictures, Why are Kiwis Endangered? Distribution: Snow Humans are a second reason that snow leopards are endangered. 28. Scientists believe that between as low as 3,500 – 6,500 snow leopards remain in the wild today. They are also hunted amazing, i love the pics and the recorces are reliable, thanks to this i have over 40 notecards to do my essay. Thank you! Snow leopards are endangered because of mating habits and poaching for money. Humans are a second reason that snow leopards are endangered. Its bones are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Living in Northern range countries at a height of 10000 feet, there are currently only 6000 snow leopards left that are living in the wilderness. The numbers are drastically declining as the local people have been involved in hunting these leopards in Jammu and Kashmir. Snow Leopards can be endangered for four main reasons : 1. 2 to 3 cubs are the average size of a litter and cubs start hunting when they are only 3 months. Snow leopard hides and bones are frequently confiscated in illegal shipments of wildlife parts bound for the markets of China. Snow leopards typically live in sub-alpine and alpine zones at heights ranging from 9800 to 14800 feet above sea level, and are one of the native animals of the Himalayas. $10,000), it isn’t hard to understand why snow leopards are at risk. However, as the human and livestock population is … Why is the Snow Leopard Endangered? There are organizations that are trying to help preserve the world’s plants. Because their natural prey are also in decline, snow leopards sometimes eat local livestock, which can result in the farmers killing them in retaliation. Why are snow leopards endangered? You can go to their With soft, gray or whitish fur, ringed with dark spots, their silky coat of the snow leopard also catches the eyes of the poachers, who hunt this attractive big cat. Snow leopards are often killed by local farmers because they prey on livestock such as sheep, goats, horses, and yak calves. Local people have been hunting this animal which is also threatened by habitat loss and deforestation. Valuable in traditional Chinese and Asian medicine, its body parts are coveted for this purpose. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (which is known as IUCN for short) is a world-wide organization whose membership is made up of many April 7, 2016 Threats climate change and snow leopards, endangered, gif, global warming, nature, rising temperature, snow leoaprd, snow leopards, wildlife Ramya Naresh Snow Leopards are one of the most elusive cat species in the world – hard to find, aptly called the ‘ghost’ of the cat world. Snow Leopard Conservancy. As climate change causes snow lines to recede, snow leopards are forced to move further up where the vegetation becomes scarce. Why Are Snow Leopards Endangered? The IUCN has placed the species in the endangered category for a reason. Just for Teachers, Copyright © 2008 The main sources of threat for snow leopards in India are: * Climate change * Unregulated tourism * Retribution killing, * Poaching, * Illegal trade, * Infrastructure development in the upper Himalayan ranges, * Excessive livestock Warmer average temperatures are leading to decreased glacier size and the snowpack is melting earlier and more quickly each year. They have pale green eyes. The vast Canadian or Alaskan wilderness seems perfect. Why are snow leopards extinct? It’s estimated that less than 10,000 individuals are still roaming around in the wild which has them marked as … There is also other reasons why Snow Leopards are endangered like the environment. The first reason is that the bones, skin and organs of large cats are valuable in traditional Asian medicine. “According to our poaching and trade survey, eight to 10 snow leopards are killed annually in Pakistan,” he said. Snow leopards primarily prey upon blue sheep, goats and mountain ibex and may also hunt birds, rabbits, and rodents. Snow leopard grow 75 – 150 cm in total length. Snow Leopards are not extinct they are … They stand 60 cm high at the shoulder. The snow leopard is actually in a dangerous spot on the list, with dwindling numbers. The typical habitat ranges from the snow line on the mountains to the tree line. Unfortunately, snow leopards are listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List. In some parts of the Himalaya, like in Spiti valley, their numbers are infact increasing. Shrinking habitats Snow leopards require vast areas to live. The snow leopard, like many species, is threatened by poaching, retaliatory killings and habitat loss. Snow leopards are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and retaliatory killing when they turn to livestock for prey. Poaching The snow leopard faces many threats including poaching, global warming, and habitat loss. Illegally hunted for the fur trade in areas like Central Asia with fur being sold in Europe and Russia, the snow leopard faces increased conflict with humans. Human encroachment is further pushing the limits of the natural habitat of snow leopards and overgrazing by domesticated livestock has left less food for wild goat and sheep for its natural prey. If the species is in big trouble they might be listed in the IUCN’s “Red List of Threatened Why Snow Leopards Are Endangered: Human activities have caused Snow Leo pards to become endangered. Various subspecies are very endangered though, due to loss of habitat and human persecution where the cats are killed because they prey on domestic livestock. The mountains where snow leopards live provide water to much of Central Asia, so the conservation of their habitat plays a role in ensuring water security. Valuable in traditional Chinese and Asian medicine, its body parts are coveted for this purpose. They can mew, growl, yowl and prusten. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because the global population is estimated to number less than 10,000 mature individuals and is expected to decline about 10% by 2040. The animals which snow leopards would typically hunt—such as the Argali sheep—are also hunted by local communities. Poachers illegally kill snow leopards, even though they are endangered, and sell the animals for money. Domestic animals may also be preyed upon by the snow leopard, which is then shot and killed by angry herdsmen. Their bones skin and organs are valuable to traditional Asian medicine. Snow leopards are endangered for three reasons: habitat loss, poaching for their pelt (fur) and poaching for their organs which are used in traditional Asian medicine. Why is the Wild Water Buffalo Endangered? The IUCN has defined the criteria that indicates when a species is in trouble. Is there any effort at this time to introduce the Snow Leopard to parts of North America. As of 2007 only Tajikistan had yet to sign the CITES agreement. When you consider that mountain grasslands, leaving less food for the wild sheep and goats that are the snow leopard’s main prey. hundreds of smaller organizations devoted to every part of the effort to preserve the natural world. These mountainous habitats range from: Such few numbers as currently recorded are the result of human habitation leading to a lessening supply of natural prey and habitat for the snow leopards. The Snow Leopard Conservancy is just one of many organizations that are trying to help the troubled animals of the world. Some conservation parks for snow leopards are established, but prey is too scarce in these areas. Reasons why snow leopards have become endangered Climate Change : Because snow leopards live on snowy mountains, their habitat is undoubtedly threatened as average temperatures continue to rise[sc:1]. The snow leopard does not move in packs– it is a solitary animal. Snow leopards are listed as Endangered by the IUCN and are on CITES: Appendix I, mainly due to hunting for their fur. CITES, as of 2007, for conserving endangered snow leopards has not been accepted by the last nation on this list. to help elephants (one is Save The Elephants) others are trying to help bats (Bat Conservation International for instance). The snow leopard also has a powerful body and enormous strength, attacking prey up to three times its body weight and leaping distances 6 times its body length. The snow leopard is no longer an endangered species, but its population in the wild is still at risk because of poaching and habitat loss, conservationists said this week. Mating is between the months of January to March and gestation of this species is 3 months. Poachers illegally hunt Snow Leopards for Snow Leopard like a cold climate but since global warming the world is getting warmer so if it … Overgrazing damages the fragile mountain grasslands, leaving less food for the wild sheep and goats that are the snow leopard’s main prey. Answer 2: Snow leopards … Description: Snow leopards display dense smoky gray coat. is trying to restore Costa Rica’s rainforest.). Species that are vulnerable are, in essence, those 29. Though Snow leopards are not endangered now, they are still vulnerable. If you want to read similar articles to Why Are Snow Leopards Endangered?, we recommend you visit our Endangered animals category. One big reason that snow leopards are endangered is because of poaching. The good news is that Snow Leopards aren’t technically endangered anymore. Their furry tails balance the body and guard from plunging temperatures while they rest. Endangered Animals in the Great Barrier Reef, Endangered Animals of the Mangrove Forests. This post explains the threats faced by the snow leopard. (The Tropical Forestry Initiative However, little is actually known about this elusive species and surveying them is extremely challenging due to the extreme and remote terrain in which they live. 3. They are protected throughout most of their range but they are still hunted illegally. As their natural prey becomes harder to find, snow leopards are forced to kill livestock for survival. It is estimated that fewer than 7,500 snow leopards remain in the wild. Why is the South Asian River Dolphin Endangered? Tigers are the prefered species for this purpose, but tigers are so rare that it is almost impossible to find one in the wild so snow leopards are substituted for tigers. Snow leopards, on rare occasions, also attack humans and are threatened because of man-animal conflicts following habitat loss and encroachment. CITES lists snow leopards in Appendix 1 (most endangered). This is now one of the biggest threats to snow leopards in parts of their range. Therefore, there is no term for a group of snow leopards. Snow leopards are members of the cat family and roam the mountains of Asia. There are three main reasons that snow leopards are in trouble. that all of his goats have been killed by a snow leopard, might retaliate by killing the snow leopard if he can find it. Even as conservation groups attempt to conserve the endangered animal and its threatened ecosystems, the threats are many. the people who live near snow leopards often earn less than 300 dollars per year and that a poacher can get perhaps $200 for a dead snow leopard (though a middleman can resell it for up to web site and learn about them. It is a very old and respected scientific organization. If you're asking yourself why Snow Leopards are endangered, take a look at this AnimalWised article and find out.

Snow leopards typically hunt wild mountain sheep and wild goats that are also hunted by members of local communities. Overgrazing damages the fragile Humans have also pushed further into the mountainous region, disturbing the cat and its prey. The snow leopard is a big sized, carnivore native to the Central Asian mountain ranges. This means the herbivores they prey diminish in numbers and leopards are having trouble finding enough food. With less food for the wild sheep and goats, there become fewer of these animals Snow leopards are no longer an endangered species; they’re now considered “vulnerable” to extinction. The snow leopard is endangered. However, the major threat to this act species is poaching, driven mostly by the illegal CITES bans or strictly limits trade of animals or their body parts. Leopards as a species are not endangered. CITES is a second organization that attempts to identify animal species that might be in trouble. Snow leopards are feline predators of the Himalayas and Central Asian mountain ranges. The snow leopard is endangered. Snow leopards have an enormous appetite and they can be a hazard to any herder's horde of cattle. Click to attach a photo related to your comment. Why Are Snow Leopards Endangered? Snow leopards are limited to India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Russia, Kazakhstan, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Snow leopards are solitary animals, it is rare to see two snow leopards together. They’re now classified as “vulnerable ” by the IUCN. Due to habitat degradation, the snow leopard's numbers fall each year. This beautiful and graceful predator is hunted for its bones, skin, and organs. The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), also known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. The snow leopard is also the national heritage animal of Pakistan and the state animal of the hilly Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Hi, we're so glad we can be useful for you, good luck on the essay! Photos        Video        Just for Fun        Loss of habitat and increasing encroachment by humans have led the snow leopard to be declared an endangered species. There are organizations that are trying Animal fur from the snow leopard is sold because it makes for an expensive thick coat. Find out Everything about this Hybrid, Differences Between Deer, Elk, Moose and Reindeer, The True Story of Hachiko - The Faithful Dog, What Does It Mean When a Cat Shows Up at My Door. 2. Why is the Hawaiian Monk Seal Endangered? Snow leopards are considered a barometer of the health of the mountain ecosystem because of their wide range and position at the top of the food chain. There are black spots on the coat. for the snow leopard. Hunting as a sport is another reason why snow leopards are being targeted. In a single incident in 2005, thirteen snow leopard hides were seized at a Mongolia-China border crossing. 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