The elusive snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is renowned worldwide for its exquisite fur and is native to the rugged mountains of Central Asia.

Thriving in the cold and desolate landscapes of high altitudes, snow leopards have evolved perfectly to adapt to their environment.

However, the encroachment of human threats has cast uncertainty on their future. Although their habitat spans over 2 million km2, scientists estimate that only a small population of 3,920 to 6,390 snow leopards remains in the wild.

The Snow Leopard Trust operates across all 12 countries where snow leopards are found, namely Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Russia, and Uzbekistan. 

They have dedicated on-ground conservation teams responsible for implementing community-based conservation and education programs, conducting vital scientific research, and actively contributing to policy development.

With the primary objective of safeguarding snow leopards, the Trust works with local communities to build conservation initiatives that also serve to lift them out of poverty cycles. 

Community livelihoods depend heavily on livestock for sustenance and income. Unfortunately, snow leopards occasionally prey on their livestock, leading to conflict and hardship. In response, some members of these low-income communities resort to retaliatory killings or poaching of snow leopards, either to protect their herds or to earn extra income.

To address this complex issue, the Trust's community-based conservation programs aim to break the cycle of poverty and create incentives for herders to protect local wildlife and ecosystems. 

By fostering a sense of stewardship towards the environment, we work towards reducing conflicts between humans and snow leopards while promoting sustainable coexistence.