Snow Leopard Program

When Panthera Science Council Vice Chair Dr. George Schaller captured the first known photograph of the snow leopard in the early 1970s, almost nothing was known about this elusive wild cat. Even today, the snow leopard is one of the least understood of the big cat species.

Utilizing new techniques tailored to monitor wildlife in remote and rugged landscapes, Panthera’s Snow Leopard Program is collecting a wealth of data to better understand this enigmatic species and how best to protect it.

Panthera’s scientists are conducting surveys on snow leopard and prey populations, training national biologists in conservation methods, assessing threats, securing habitat, mitigating human-wildlife conflict by collaborating with local communities, and helping governments establish and implement National Snow Leopard Action Plans.

Today, Panthera’s Snow Leopard Program currently leads or supports conservation activities in five of the 12 snow leopard range countries, including China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Our team is rapidly expanding our conservation efforts in China, where more than half of all wild snow leopards are thought to exist.

See snow leopard range map

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