Project
Summary: To save the last surviving snow leopards in their remaining ranges
and work with local communities to ensure they benefit directly from their
wildlife rather than killing it.
The snow leopard is a very shy and elusive
member of the cat family, living in the high, remote mountains of
Mongolia, China, northern India, the former USSR and other mountain
regions in central Asia. It is now critically endangered with experts
estimating that the number in the wild is as low as 4,500-5,000.
They are killed by local herdsmen to protect their flocks and their
fur and body parts are sold to the fur and traditional Chinese medicine
trades.
The
International Snow Leopard Trust was set up to research and save
these animals from the brink of extinction whilst developing management
plans for their future conservation. In May 2002, 65 of the world's
snow leopard experts met together to draft and implement the Snow
Leopard Survival Strategy which has now been produced, as part
of a truly global conservation initiative. In conjunction with
this, the Snow Leopard Enterprises (SLE) programme has also been
launched which assists local communities in Mongolia, living in
the remote areas of the snow leopards’ range, to produce
handicrafts which can be sold worldwide, with special markets
being developed in America, thus providing increased income potential.
Monitoring and research in other range states continues and the
project has recently embarked on a vital conservation initiative
in China.
Reasons for DSWF support:
To save the elusive and beautiful snow leopard
in its wild habitat.
DSWF funds:
DSWF
grants are spent on the community development and awareness initiative,
encouraging local people to actively benefit from their wildlife
and value the snow leopard. Money is spent on research technology,
including remote cameras set up on high mountain trails to record
the number and distribution of snow leopards in previously undocumented
areas. Grants part funded the development of the first country-specific
snow leopard management plan for Mongolia and other initiatives
of the Trust, most recently in China where 2/3rds of the world's
last snow leopards survive.
If you would like to help save
the world's last snow leopards please follow the links below to
make a donation or you can phone the Foundation Office on 01483
272323.
