ISLAMABAD: As the world marked the International Day of the Snow Leopard on Thursday, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to protecting the endangered snow leopard and the fragile high-altitude ecosystems that sustain it.
This commitment was reiterated by Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, wildlife conservation advocacy specialist and spokesperson for the Ministry. Describing the snow leopard — often called the “ghost of the mountains” — as one of the world’s most elusive and threatened big cats, he underlined the federal government’s determination to safeguard the species and its mountainous habitat in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental partners as well as local communities.
“Together with mountain communities, scientists, and conservation partners, Pakistan is committed to ensuring that the snow leopard continues to thrive as a symbol of resilience and ecological balance in our high mountains,” Saleem Shaikh said.
Marked annually on October 23, International Snow Leopard Day is being celebrated this year under the theme “Safeguarding Snow Leopard Habitats for Future Generations.” The observance aims to raise awareness about the species’ conservation and mobilize collective action among governments, conservationists, and communities worldwide.
Globally, snow leopards are estimated to number between 3,500 and 7,000 across 12 countries in Central and South Asia — including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Given their transboundary range, regional cooperation remains vital for the species’ survival through data sharing, joint research, and coordinated efforts to curb poaching and other human-induced threats.
In Pakistan, snow leopards inhabit over 80,000 square kilometres across the Hindu Kush, Pamir, Karakoram, and Himalayan ranges in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the latest national survey, the population is estimated at around 167 individuals, primarily in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, and northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The survey, based on camera-trap monitoring and field data, provides the first robust baseline for conservation planning.
Pakistan is an active member of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP), which unites 12 range countries to protect snow leopard habitats and promote sustainable mountain development.
Saleem Shaikh highlighted that snow leopards face increasing threats from climate change and human activities. “Warming temperatures, retreating glaciers, and shifting vegetation are shrinking their alpine habitat. Overgrazing, prey depletion, illegal hunting, and retaliatory killings also continue to undermine conservation efforts,” he said.
He added that expanding infrastructure, mining, and unregulated tourism have fragmented the species’ range, while climate-induced habitat shifts are forcing snow leopards closer to human settlements, raising conflict risks.
He emphasized that protecting snow leopards requires more than fieldwork — it demands policy advocacy, community engagement, and awareness. “Community-based programmes can reduce retaliatory killings and promote coexistence through livestock insurance, predator-proof corrals, and ecotourism,” he said.
Outlining current efforts, Saleem Shaikh said the Ministry, in partnership with national and international organizations, is implementing several initiatives — including the National Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme under GSLEP. The Ministry is also expanding community-based conservation projects in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral to provide compensation and alternative livelihoods for herders.
Research and monitoring efforts are being strengthened with support from partner organizations and provincial wildlife departments. Awareness campaigns focusing on youth engagement, sustainable tourism, and anti-poaching are underway, along with cross-border cooperation to protect transboundary wildlife corridors.
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“These programmes have already begun yielding positive results by reducing human-wildlife conflict and improving monitoring in key habitats,” he noted.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for sustained advocacy and education. “Policy change and public awareness must go hand in hand. Conservation success depends on effective governance and community ownership,” he said, adding that enforcing wildlife protection laws and promoting climate-resilient development in high-altitude regions must remain a national priority.
