Adopt a snow leopard
Powerful, captivating and incredibly vulnerable to poaching and loss of prey.
The elegant snow leopard is one of the world’s most elusive cats. Sparsely distributed across 12 countries in central Asia, it’s usually found in high, rugged mountain landscapes at elevations of 3,000–4,500m. But in just 16 years, snow leopard numbers have declined by at least 20%.
YOUR ADOPTION REALLY HELPS
Animal adoptions like yours give a huge boost to our work. They not only help fund our work with local communities to monitor snow leopard movements and reduce human-snow leopard conflict but also fund our other vital work around the world.
PROTECT THESE INCREDIBLE ANIMALS AND RECEIVE:
CUDDLY TOY
An optional soft toy to love forever.
REGULAR UPDATES
We'll keep you regularly updated on how you're supporting our vital work including sending your Wild World, Go Wild and Snow leopards updates three times a year.
FACT PACK
Packed with facts, bookmarks and stickers.
A WONDERFUL GIFT
Give a gift that will help protect the future of snow leopards and their habitats.
Snow leopards prefer steep terrain, broken by cliffs, rocky outcrops and ravines. They live at high altitudes, usually at elevations of 3,000–4,500m, although they occasionally go above 5,500m in the Himalayas.
THREATS
HUMAN SNOW LEOPARD CONFLICT
There’s around 10 times more livestock than wild prey in some snow leopard range areas. This can lead to farmers killing snow leopards to protect their livestock.
LOSS OF PREY
Over-grazing by domestic livestock is damaging to mountain grasslands and leading to a decline in the snow leopard's natural prey.
POACHING
Still hunted for their prized skins as status symbols. Their bones are still used in traditional Asian medicine.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The high Himalayas are warming at three times the global average, affecting snow leopard habitat.
HOW WE CAN HELP
We’re working with governments, local communities and TRAFFIC (the wildlife trade monitoring network) to prevent the illegal trade in snow leopards and their body parts, reduce conflict with local people, and protect the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area in Nepal.
The snow leopard’s habitat also provides important resources for the many people who live there – from food and medicine to wood for shelter, heat and fuel. By helping to protect the snow leopard, we’re helping to conserve its environment for the benefit of people and nature.
Your adoption and support will help us:
- train and equip anti-poaching patrols
- promote sustainable use of natural resources in the region
- work with local communities to monitor snow leopard movement and reduce human-snow leopard conflict
- support compensation schemes for local farmers who have lost livestock to snow leopards
- establish programmes to increase wild prey numbers
Unlike other big cats, snow leopards cannot roar.