- Rare snow leopard captured in Afghanistan’s northeast, set to be released back into the wild after killing livestock animals.
- Snow leopards are “vulnerable” due to climate change, habitat loss, and poaching.
- Residents of Zibak hopeful for the leopard’s release to protect natural heritage and prevent its disappearance from the area.
Additional Coverage:
A rare snow leopard was captured by Afghan authorities in the country’s northeast and is set to be released back into the wild. The leopard reportedly killed around 30 livestock animals before becoming trapped in a livestock enclosure in the Zibak district of Badakhshan province. The captured juvenile leopard was treated for a minor leg injury and is being held at the governor’s compound in the provincial capital Faizabad. The head of the Wildlife Conservation Society office in Badakhshan confirmed that the leopard would soon be released back into its natural habitat.
Snow leopards are elusive creatures and are considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their numbers are decreasing due to climate change, habitat loss, and poaching. Warmer temperatures are causing tree lines to rise, leading farmers to encroach on snow leopard territory in search of suitable grazing areas. In a similar incident last year, another snow leopard killed around 40 livestock animals in Badakhshan, leaving the affected farmer without his only source of income.
The residents of Zibak are hopeful that the leopard will be released as planned, as they believe it is important to protect the province’s natural heritage and prevent the disappearance of snow leopards from the area. Snow leopards are native to Central Asia, including countries like China, India, Russia, and Afghanistan. According to the Snow Leopard Trust, there are an estimated 3,920 to 6,390 snow leopards remaining in the wild. However, their populations are still decreasing in some regions.
The main threats to snow leopards include poaching for their skin and traditional medicine, the loss of their prey species, damage to their high-elevation habitat, and a lack of awareness among local communities and governments. In Siberia, former poachers and local residents are assisting the World Wildlife Fund with a snow leopard conservation program.