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Snow leopard
Snow leopards are often called the "ghosts of the mountains" due to their elusive nature and their ability to blend seamlessly into their high-altitude, snowy habitat.
Photo:Adobe Stock/kwadrat70

The ghost of the mountains

Big cats are elusive, but the snow leopard, especially so. Locals living alongside the leopards often refer to them as the ‘ghosts of the mountains’ as they are hardly ever seen.

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is found in the high mountain regions of Asia. It is an iconic and ecologically significant species found across the mountainous areas, including in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The snow leopard has been listed in appendix I to the since 1975, and in appendix I to the since 1986. Also, the snow leopard’s population was classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species in 2017 and is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.

The greatest threats to the survival of the snow leopard are habitat loss and fragmentation, prey depletion and illicit trafficking, illegal hunting, including poaching, and climate change.

International Day of the Snow Leopard

In 2024, the General Assembly 23 October as International Day of the Snow Leopard in order to enhance international and regional cooperation in support of efforts to conserve the snow leopard, given its role in the overall ecosystem.

The General Assembly stressed the urgent need to address the unprecedented global decline in biodiversity, including by preventing the extinction of threatened species, improving and sustaining their conservation status and restoring and safeguarding ecosystems that provide essential functions and services, including services related to water, health, livelihoods and well-being.

Safeguarding and conservation

Mountain ecosystems play a crucial role in providing water and other essential resources and services to a large portion of the world’s population. Sustaining and protecting mountain flagship species is key to the functioning of these ecosystems.

Safeguarding and conservation of the snow leopard contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including SDG 6 (Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Biodiversity).

Regional initiatives

Governments of the snow leopard range countries take measures towards safeguarding the species, including the establishment of breeding programmes and the development of a regional strategy and national action plans for the conservation of the snow leopard.

There are several regional initiatives for range State cooperation, transboundary approaches and outcomes of multi-partner initiatives, conventions and mechanisms at the regional level, including:

  • Saudi Arabia and Panthera’s Arabian Leopard Initiative,
  • Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme,
  • Strategy for Snow Leopard Conservation in the Russian Federation,
  • Snow Leopard Conservation Action Plan 2024–2030 and Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Management Plan 2017–2026 of Nepal,
  • Snow Leopard Conservation Action Plan 2024–2034 of Bhutan, a climate-integrated landscape approach to snow leopard conservation,
  • Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme of Pakistan,
  • Bishkek Declaration of 2017 entitled “Caring for snow leopards and mountains: our ecological future”, signed by 12 snow leopard range countries, including all five Central Asian countries,
  • Samarkand Resolution of 2024 for snow leopard conservation and climate adaptation, adopted at the eighth Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme,
  • Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of the Snow Leopard and its Ecosystems in the Western Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai, signed by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan,
  • Initiative of India to create the International Big Cat Alliance,
  • Jaguar 2030 road map,
  • North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation Nature Conservation Strategy on conservation of flagship species that include the amur tiger, the amur leopard and the snow leopard, and
  • International Tiger Forum.

Did you know?

  • The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species the number of mature individuals at 2,710-3,380.
  • The snow leopard is usually solitary and highly elusive.
  • Dawn and dusk are the snow leopard’s most active times.
  • Snow leopards are not known to be aggressive toward humans.

Protecting the Ghost

Resources

Key documents

  • International Day of the Snow Leopard ()

Websites

Related Observances

The  (UNEP) Vanishing Treasures initiative aims to better understand the impact of climate change on , bengal tigers and on mountain gorillas to improve protection of these ever-diminishing species while supporting local mountain communities who live alongside them.

 

Butterfly in branch

Conserving and restoring natural spaces, and the biodiversity they contain, is essential for limiting emissions and adapting to climate impacts. Climate change and biodiversity loss (as well as pollution) are part of an interlinked  the world is facing today. They  if we are to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and secure a viable future on this planet. 

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.