One of the various animals that are teetering on the brink of extinction is the Snow Leopard. This beautiful and elusive mammal is found in the mountainous areas of Central and South Asia. It is difficult to estimate the exact number of Snow Leopards left in the wild because of the solitary nature of this animal and because it lives in very isolated and mountainous territory. However, naturalists are able to estimate that not more than 5000 Snow Leopards are still living in the wild.

The Snow Leopard species is under threat due to a lot of reasons. One of them is because they are hunted for their beautiful and unusual looking fur. The fur of a Snow Leopard is very long and thick, as is necessitated by the weather conditions and extreme cold of its natural terrain. The base color of its fur is predominantly smoky grey although it can also be a yellowish shade of brown. The fur has dark grey or black rosettes which add to the beauty of the animal. Trade in Snow Leopard fur is illegal, but that does not stop poachers from going after them since there is sufficient demand for this fur.

Snow Leopard bones are also unfortunately much in demand for the preparation of certain traditional Asian medicines.

Another reason for the threat that these animals face is that human beings are beginning to encroach upon their natural habitat. South Asia is already an overpopulated place and the speed with which its population continues to expand is posing a huge threat to various animal species and not just the Snow Leopard. As the mountain sides become more populated, there are increasing instances of Snow Leopards entering them in order to eat their livestock. Quite naturally, the impoverished human population kills these animals in order to protect their property.

Global warming is also posing a threat to these animals. As the world grows warmer and the snows begin to melt, their natural habitat begins to shrink with disastrous consequences for them. These animals typically live in a narrow band in between where the tree line ends and the snow line begins. These animals have a great deal of trouble finding sufficient amount of food in the higher elevations that they are compelled to move to as a result of receding snow lines.

Thankfully, there are conservation methods in place to save this species from extinction. Conversationalists have realized that the only way that their programs can succeed is if they take the needs of the local human population into account. Therefore, in addition to asking for outright bans on poaching, they also educate the local population about the threat that these animals are facing and the impact that this will cause on their lives. In addition, some countries have programs in place whereby villagers are reimbursed the cost of livestock that are lifted by these animals.

The survival of these beautiful animals depends on these programs and also on captive breeding programs. Give these programs all the support you can because they depend on it.

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Category: Pets
Keywords: Leopard, Snow Leopard, fur, conservation, Leopards