Overgrazing damages the fragile mountain grasslands, leaving less food for the wild sheep and goats that are the snow leopard’s main prey. Humans have pushed ever further with their livestock into the snow leopard’s habitat. CITES is a second organization that attempts to identify animal species that might be in trouble. Distribution: Snow hundreds of smaller organizations devoted to every part of the effort to preserve the natural world. 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. Valuable in traditional Chinese and Asian medicine, its body parts are coveted for this purpose. This beautiful and graceful predator is hunted for its bones, skin, and organs. Why is the South Asian River Dolphin Endangered? Shrinking habitats Snow leopards require vast areas to live. Description: Snow leopards display dense smoky gray coat. “According to our poaching and trade survey, eight to 10 snow leopards are killed annually in Pakistan,” he said. The IUCN has placed the species in the endangered category for a reason. Snow Leopards can be endangered for four main reasons : 1. 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. 2 to 3 cubs are the average size of a litter and cubs start hunting when they are only 3 months. It is estimated that fewer than 7,500 snow leopards remain in the wild. is trying to restore Costa Rica’s rainforest.). Just for Teachers, Copyright © 2008 The vast Canadian or Alaskan wilderness seems perfect. 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. Its bones are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 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. Some conservation parks for snow leopards are established, but prey is too scarce in these areas. There are organizations that are trying Why is the Hawaiian Monk Seal Endangered? Animal fur from the snow leopard is sold because it makes for an expensive thick coat. Endangered Animals in the Great Barrier Reef, Endangered Animals of the Mangrove Forests. 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. that all of his goats have been killed by a snow leopard, might retaliate by killing the snow leopard if he can find it. This means the herbivores they prey diminish in numbers and leopards are having trouble finding enough food. However, as the human and livestock population is … 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 leopard hides and bones are frequently confiscated in illegal shipments of wildlife parts bound for the markets of China. Why are snow leopards endangered? web site and learn about them. CITES lists snow leopards in Appendix 1 (most endangered). 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. Leopards as a species are not endangered. Snow leopards primarily prey upon blue sheep, goats and mountain ibex and may also hunt birds, rabbits, and rodents. 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. Snow leopard grow 75 – 150 cm in total length. Snow leopards are feline predators of the Himalayas and Central Asian mountain ranges. There is also other reasons why Snow Leopards are endangered like the environment. Is there any effort at this time to introduce the Snow Leopard to parts of North America. There are three main reasons that snow leopards are in trouble. 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. Humans have pushed ever further with their livestock into the snow leopard’s habitat. 2. Snow leopards, on rare occasions, also attack humans and are threatened because of man-animal conflicts following habitat loss and encroachment. Its over-sized, furry paws are used as its natural walking shoes to navigate the icy peaks. 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. Their bones skin and organs are valuable to traditional Asian medicine. Therefore, there is no term for a group of snow leopards. There are black spots on the coat. Poachers illegally hunt Snow Leopards for The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), also known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. Snow leopards are solitary animals, it is rare to see two snow leopards together. 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 to help elephants (one is Save The Elephants) others are trying to help bats (Bat Conservation International for instance). Snow leopards are no longer an endangered species; they’re now considered “vulnerable” to extinction. The snow leopard is actually in a dangerous spot on the list, with dwindling numbers. Snow leopards are members of the cat family and roam the mountains of Asia. The numbers are drastically declining as the local people have been involved in hunting these leopards in Jammu and Kashmir. 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. 3. 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. Snow leopards are listed as Endangered by the IUCN and are on CITES: Appendix I, mainly due to hunting for their fur. This leaves the snow leopard with little choice but to prey on the domestic livestock for their own survival. Thank you! 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 Leopard: A Beautiful Yet Endangered Species, Barren Mountains, shrinking natural habitats, Endangered Animals of India - With Pictures, Why are Kiwis Endangered? CITES is the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Domestic animals may also be preyed upon by the snow leopard, which is then shot and killed by angry herdsmen. Mating is between the months of January to March and gestation of this species is 3 months. The snow leopard does not move in packs– it is a solitary animal. 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 Photos Video Just for Fun The IUCN has defined the criteria that indicates when a species is in trouble. Home Save Snow Leopards 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 climate change causes snow lines to recede, snow leopards are forced to move further up where the vegetation becomes scarce. 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. Species that are vulnerable are, in essence, those 29. If you want to read similar articles to Why Are Snow Leopards Endangered?, we recommend you visit our Endangered animals category. Even as conservation groups attempt to conserve the endangered animal and its threatened ecosystems, the threats are many. Humans are a second reason that snow leopards are endangered. The Snow Leopard Conservancy is just one of many organizations that are trying to help the troubled animals of the world. They are also hunted You can go to their Scientists believe that between as low as 3,500 – 6,500 snow leopards remain in the wild today. This beautiful and graceful predator is hunted for its bones, skin, and organs. When you consider that It’s estimated that less than 10,000 individuals are still roaming around in the wild which has them marked as … Why are Snow Leopards Important? The snow leopard, like many species, is threatened by poaching, retaliatory killings and habitat loss. These activities include poaching, mining, and retribution killing. Hi, we're so glad we can be useful for you, good luck on the essay! As their natural prey becomes harder to find, snow leopards are forced to kill livestock for survival. It is a very old and respected scientific organization. They’re now classified as “vulnerable ” by the IUCN. Snow Leopards are not extinct they are … The snow leopard is also the national heritage animal of Pakistan and the state animal of the hilly Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Snow leopards are endangered because of mating habits and poaching for money. They stand 60 cm high at the shoulder. Humans are a second reason that snow leopards are endangered. Why is the Snow Leopard Endangered? CITES, as of 2007, for conserving endangered snow leopards has not been accepted by the last nation on this list. Snow Leopards 101 Snow leopards—one of the world’s most elusive cats—are perfectly equipped to thrive in extreme, high-elevation habitats. Though Snow leopards are not endangered now, they are still vulnerable. (The Tropical Forestry Initiative amazing, i love the pics and the recorces are reliable, thanks to this i have over 40 notecards to do my essay. One big reason that snow leopards are endangered is because of poaching. 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 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]. If the species is in big trouble they might be listed in the IUCN’s “Red List of Threatened Snow leopards are often killed by local farmers because they prey on livestock such as sheep, goats, horses, and yak calves. The snow leopard is endangered. However, the major threat to this act species is poaching, driven mostly by the illegal This is now one of the biggest threats to snow leopards in parts of their range. 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