why are snow leopards endangered

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. There are organizations that are trying 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 Why Are Snow Leopards Endangered? However, the major threat to this act species is poaching, driven mostly by the illegal 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. Overgrazing damages the fragile 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. They are also hunted Their bones skin and organs are valuable to traditional Asian medicine. Scientists believe that between as low as 3,500 – 6,500 snow leopards remain in the wild today. Snow leopards are members of the cat family and roam the mountains of Asia. 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. 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. 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. The IUCN has placed the species in the endangered category for a reason. There is also other reasons why Snow Leopards are endangered like the environment. In a single incident in 2005, thirteen snow leopard hides were seized at a Mongolia-China border crossing. Warmer average temperatures are leading to decreased glacier size and the snowpack is melting earlier and more quickly each year. Poachers illegally kill snow leopards, even though they are endangered, and sell the animals for money. The good news is that Snow Leopards aren’t technically endangered anymore. They’re now classified as “vulnerable ” by the IUCN. Species.”. Snow leopards are limited to India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Russia, Kazakhstan, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Its bones are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Therefore, there is no term for a group of snow leopards. Humans have pushed ever further with their livestock into the snow leopard’s habitat. An unhappy farmer, arriving at his goat pen one morning to find Snow Leopard like a cold climate but since global warming the world is getting warmer so if it … 2. Why Are Snow Leopards Endangered? This means the herbivores they prey diminish in numbers and leopards are having trouble finding enough food. Snow leopard hides and bones are frequently confiscated in illegal shipments of wildlife parts bound for the markets of China. You can go to their Why are snow leopards endangered? web site and learn about them. - Facts and Figures, Is it Legal to Own a Wolf-Dog? 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. Snow leopards are no longer an endangered species; they’re now considered “vulnerable” to extinction. Why are Snow Leopards Endangered Their Diet However many cute, adorable pictures we see of Snow Leopards on the internet, in magazines, or even on this website, they are still wild animals. The snow leopard is a big sized, carnivore native to the Central Asian mountain ranges. 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. Snow leopards are facing a clear threat from climate change. 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. The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), also known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. Some conservation parks for snow leopards are established, but prey is too scarce in these areas. It is estimated that fewer than 7,500 snow leopards remain in the wild. Snow leopards have an enormous appetite and they can be a hazard to any herder's horde of cattle. Leopards as a species are not endangered. Valuable in traditional Chinese and Asian medicine, its body parts are coveted for this purpose. Its over-sized, furry paws are used as its natural walking shoes to navigate the icy peaks. Snow leopards are solitary animals, it is rare to see two snow leopards together. The Snow Leopard Conservancy is just one of many organizations that are trying to help the troubled animals of the world. Hi, we're so glad we can be useful for you, good luck on the essay! Species that are vulnerable are, in essence, those 29. These activities include poaching, mining, and retribution killing. There are black spots on the coat. CITES is a second organization that attempts to identify animal species that might be in trouble. 28. Snow Leopards are not extinct they are … Why are snow leopards extinct? 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. (The Tropical Forestry Initiative The animals which snow leopards would typically hunt—such as the Argali sheep—are also hunted by local communities. 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.

Snow leopards typically hunt wild mountain sheep and wild goats that are also hunted by members of local communities. “According to our poaching and trade survey, eight to 10 snow leopards are killed annually in Pakistan,” he said. Photos        Video        Just for Fun        2 to 3 cubs are the average size of a litter and cubs start hunting when they are only 3 months. Distribution: Snow The snow leopard is also the national heritage animal of Pakistan and the state animal of the hilly Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. 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. Description: Snow leopards display dense smoky gray coat. With less food for the wild sheep and goats, there become fewer of these animals The first reason is that the bones, skin and organs of large cats are valuable in traditional Asian medicine. Their furry tails balance the body and guard from plunging temperatures while they rest. Humans are a second reason that snow leopards are endangered. However, as the human and livestock population is … Humans are a second reason that snow leopards are endangered. CITES is the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Why is the Wild Water Buffalo Endangered? Humans have pushed ever further with their livestock into the snow leopard’s habitat. Why are Snow Leopards Important? They are protected throughout most of their range but they are still hunted illegally. Click to attach a photo related to your comment. Humans have also pushed further into the mountainous region, disturbing the cat and its prey. It’s estimated that less than 10,000 individuals are still roaming around in the wild which has them marked as … This is now one of the biggest threats to snow leopards in parts of their range. Endangered Animals in the Great Barrier Reef, Endangered Animals of the Mangrove Forests. CITES lists snow leopards in Appendix 1 (most endangered). Thank you! mountain grasslands, leaving less food for the wild sheep and goats that are the snow leopard’s main prey. If you want to read similar articles to Why Are Snow Leopards Endangered?, we recommend you visit our Endangered animals category. Snow leopards are listed as Endangered by the IUCN and are on CITES: Appendix I, mainly due to hunting for their fur. 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. Snow leopards are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and retaliatory killing when they turn to livestock for prey. The snow leopard is endangered. Snow leopards are endangered because of mating habits and poaching for money. Snow leopards are highly vulnerable to poaching for their hides and bones which are prized on the black market. This beautiful and graceful predator is hunted for its bones, skin, and organs. The snow leopard does not move in packs– it is a solitary animal. If the species is in big trouble they might be listed in the IUCN’s “Red List of Threatened Thirty percent of snow leopard habitat may be lost in the Himalayas, due to treeline shift Washington DC – A new study shows that climate change presents a heightened threat for snow leopards in the Himalaya Mountains, according to conservation group World Wildlife Fund. Hunting as a sport is another reason why snow leopards are being targeted. to help elephants (one is Save The Elephants) others are trying to help bats (Bat Conservation International for instance). Loss of habitat and increasing encroachment by humans have led the snow leopard to be declared an endangered species. CITES bans or strictly limits trade of animals or their body parts. The numbers are drastically declining as the local people have been involved in hunting these leopards in Jammu and Kashmir. is trying to restore Costa Rica’s rainforest.). 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 The IUCN has defined the criteria that indicates when a species is in trouble. 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 Poaching The snow leopard faces many threats including poaching, global warming, and habitat loss. CITES, as of 2007, for conserving endangered snow leopards has not been accepted by the last nation on this list. 3. The vast Canadian or Alaskan wilderness seems perfect. Overgrazing damages the fragile mountain grasslands, leaving less food for the wild sheep and goats that are the snow leopard’s main prey. Some captive snow leopards are reared in zoos and some national parks– these number one tenth of the figure found in the wild or just 600. Just for Teachers, Copyright © 2008 When you consider that Snow leopards are often killed by local farmers because they prey on livestock such as sheep, goats, horses, and yak calves. Unlike other large cats, snow leopards cannot roar. It is a very old and respected scientific organization. The typical habitat ranges from the snow line on the mountains to the tree line. This post explains the threats faced by the snow leopard. The snow leopard is endangered. Domestic animals may also be preyed upon by the snow leopard, which is then shot and killed by angry herdsmen. that all of his goats have been killed by a snow leopard, might retaliate by killing the snow leopard if he can find it. They have pale green eyes. Is there any effort at this time to introduce the Snow Leopard to parts of North America. 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. for the snow leopard. They stand 60 cm high at the shoulder. Due to habitat degradation, the snow leopard's numbers fall each year. Because their natural prey are also in decline, snow leopards sometimes eat local livestock, which can result in the farmers killing them in retaliation. Snow leopards also lack the protection of the law because they inhabit isolated peaks which are difficult for police. One big reason that snow leopards are endangered is because of poaching. Shrinking habitats Snow leopards require vast areas to live. Snow leopard grow 75 – 150 cm in total length. Snow leopards, on rare occasions, also attack humans and are threatened because of man-animal conflicts following habitat loss and encroachment. There are three main reasons that snow leopards are in trouble. Snow leopards are feline predators of the Himalayas and Central Asian mountain ranges. Local people have been hunting this animal which is also threatened by habitat loss and deforestation. Home        Save Snow Leopards        Why Snow Leopards Are Endangered: Human activities have caused Snow Leo pards to become endangered. Even as conservation groups attempt to conserve the endangered animal and its threatened ecosystems, the threats are many. There are organizations that are trying to help preserve the world’s plants. 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]. Poachers illegally hunt Snow Leopards for Mating is between the months of January to March and gestation of this species is 3 months. Animal fur from the snow leopard is sold because it makes for an expensive thick coat. Snow leopards primarily prey upon blue sheep, goats and mountain ibex and may also hunt birds, rabbits, and rodents. Though Snow leopards are not endangered now, they are still vulnerable. This leaves the snow leopard with little choice but to prey on the domestic livestock for their own survival. Why is the Hawaiian Monk Seal Endangered? If you're asking yourself why Snow Leopards are endangered, take a look at this AnimalWised article and find out. Snow Leopard: A Beautiful Yet Endangered Species, Barren Mountains, shrinking natural habitats, Endangered Animals of India - With Pictures, Why are Kiwis Endangered? Why is the Snow Leopard Endangered? 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. Snow Leopard Conservancy. Unfortunately, snow leopards are listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List. 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. 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. As their natural prey becomes harder to find, snow leopards are forced to kill livestock for survival. This beautiful and graceful predator is hunted for its bones, skin, and organs. Answer 2: Snow leopards … $10,000), it isn’t hard to understand why snow leopards are at risk. 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. The snow leopard, like many species, is threatened by poaching, retaliatory killings and habitat loss. 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