Humans are the main predators of snow leopards. Their influence has extremely negative effects on the species and threatens their survival.
Habitat Degradation and Prey Loss
Even though snow leopards inhabit harsh and brittle conditions of high altitudes, the use of their land by humans is becoming more and more extensive. The snow leopard's habitat generally ranges from where the tree line stops to where the snow line begins on the mountains of Central Asia. Due to increased temperatures of global warming the snow line is diminishing and these wild leopards are forced to move to higher altitudes. As these individuals move higher up the mountain slopes they experience a lack of sufficient prey and vegetation necessary for their survival. This decrease in herbivores to prey on is also a result of reduced hunting range due to these global warming conditions. According to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), "impacts from climate change could result in a loss of up to 30 percent of the snow leopard habitat in the Himalayas alone".
Throughout the past few years, humans have become more mobile and have began to enter snow leopard habitat as cities and villages have expanded for human settlement. Human settlement in these mountainous areas brings along livestock grazing which causes damage to the habitat grasslands. Extensive herding and grazing also results in the natural prey of the snow leopard having to shift their ecosystem in order to make room for the grazing livestock. According to Bazarsad Chimed-Ochir, Head of the WWF Mongolia Project Office, "livestock in the last 10 years have been rapidly increasing- before 1990 we had about 20-25 million, now we have 33 millionl livestock". As a result wild cattle such as Ibex, being the primary food source for snow leopards, experience a lack of food due to the consumption of wild grasses by the expanding herd populations. This in turn affects the snow leopard because decreasing wild cattle populations lead to limited food sources for the snow leopard. When their natural prey is scarce in numbers, snow leopards are forced to hunt and prey on livestock, increasing conflict between herders and farmers. In addition to expanding livestock grazing in snow leopard habitat, humans have began to hunt these wild cattle species for their own benefit; either as a food source or trophies, also reducing the snow leopard primary food source numbers.
Changing snow line of Jade Dragon Snow mountain in Yunnan province, China
Lack of Awareness and Funding
Laws have already been put into place that deal with the protection of the diminishing snow leopard population. However, people living in snow leopard habitats deal with the constant struggle of poverty. This results in them relying on their livestock and poaching as their primary source of income. As a result, they place little or no desire in saving the feline population when their own family needs help themselves. In addition, governments are placing more importance in economic and political issues of their countries instead of balancing these issues with environmental problems. Very little money is being devoted to habitat protection policies and poaching boundary laws.
Herder and Farmer Conflicts
Herder/farmer in Pakistan
As mentioned previously, herders often lose their livestock to hungry snow leopards that are desperately searching for available prey once their primary source of food is at a low. It is estimated that in some areas in Central Asia, livestock accounts for abut 60% of a snow leopard's diet. (World Wildlife Foundation, 2014). Livestock is also much faster, easier and harmless for snow leopards to kill providing quick food sources. Farmers rely on the well being of their herds of sheep, goats, horses etc for income and economic stability so the loss of even one of their animals has a big impact on their livelihood and entire family. This is why herders will often retaliate by poisoning, shooting and trapping snow leopards in order to prevent future attacks.
Mining
Mining activities also pose a significant threat to snow leopard habitat. In recent years, people have discovered that the mountains found throughout the snow leopards range are rich in expensive minerals such as gold, gemstones, zinc etc. These mining sites are often poorly planned leading to dangerous chemicals and explosives being exposed into the environment. These chemicals and explosives often poison or directly kill snow leopards and open-pit mines lead to severe environmental damage causing the remaining individuals to relocate. Increased mining activity also leads to the demand for more workers. These migrants from other neighboring regions will most likely begin to poach and hunt for snow leopards and their prey just like the other people already settled in snow leopard habitat.
Poaching and Illegal Business
Poaching snow leopard pelts
Snow leopards are recognized around the world for their beautiful, thick fur that is considered fashionable in areas like Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia. Many poachers are local residents living close to snow leopard habitat as pelts provide them with a significant increase in income. These residents are often among individuals of high levels of poverty and hunting snow leopards provides them with extra income for survival necessities. Livestock herders in these areas that retaliate against snow leopards will often have the incentive to make a profit from the killing of the cat and sell its carcass for profit. According to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), snow leopard pelts were in high demand in the 1920's when fur coats made their first appearance in the fashion world. During this time, approximately 1000 snow leopard coats were exported out of Russia and China each and every year (World Wildlife Foundation [WWF], 2001). In present day, the trade of these pelts is banned in most countries with the exception of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan among others. In Kazakhstan, "a snow leopard pelt can fetch a price 60 times higher than the minimum wage" (World Wildlife Foundation [WWF], 2001). In addition to their beautiful and expensive fur, snow leopard bones and skeletons are in demand for use in historic Asian medicine markets. With the traditionally used tiger bones becoming more rare, Asian medicine markets are desperately searching for replacements. Tom McCarthy, a Conservation Director of the International Snow Leopard Trust is working with the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) to help save the snow leopard population. He says, "Snow leopards are one replacement that we know is being more keenly sought. We've just heard that one full snow leopard skeleton was sold for U.S $10,000" Increased poaching for snow leopard bones