#PDFPEN SNOW LEOPARD UPDATE#

The Snow Leopard was skinned and brought to the village. The Snow Leopard was allowed to weaken the ibex first and when they were sure the ibex was no longer able to fight back they opened fire on the big cat and killed it and the ibex as well. Only once a group of hunters from my own village, I recall, did kill a Snow Leopard when they found it trying to overcome a big ibex. Snow Leopards in this valley were neither killed, then nor now, for their meat or any other part of their bodies, despite it being fashionable or lucrative in other parts of the world. More than four decades ago there were different rules pertaining to big game in this part of the country. The poachers pose a threat for the lives of the wild life watchers in the far-flung mountain regions which are the primary habitat of the wild life. The wild life watchers do not have modern devices to determine the movement of wild life, especially the big cats. Moreover the terrain is torturous, with high gorges, such that poaching cannot be easily detected. The government does not compensate for any loss sustained by the owners of the cattle or goats. Even though it has been declared an endangered species that does not deter a man who suffers loss of livestock from killing the cats in retribution. This subjects the cat to the most danger because the owner will avenge his loss by trying to kill the Snow Leopard. Consequently, with the decrease in the number of these prey species, the Snow Leopard has less and less food and thus it becomes compelled to descend to villages where it hunts domestic animals such as goats, oxen etc. In spite of the fact that local poachers do considerable damage to ibex and markhor populations they are subject merely to soft penalties.

#PDFPEN SNOW LEOPARD UPDATE#

Though the Wild Life Department Watchers staff carries out regular reconnaissance, vigilance and a rough census each year on the number of ibex and markhor there has been no update of data about Snow Leopards. The traditional knowledge and indigenous approach as well as the info from other distant valleys, where it is also seen but only sporadically, has proven interesting, but the above mentioned valleys have been famous for the presence of this cat due to reports in January 2006 about an old Snow Leopard roaming in the valley at nights. This article is focused on the constraints faced by Snow Leopards in the above named valleys and side valleys of the high Hindukush section and the threats faced by this big cat in this particular region. While in the lower regions the Snow Leopard poses a threat to domestic animals. The cat comes down to the valley floors in winter when heavy snow fall compels it to descend to lower altitudes. The Snow Leopard feeds upon ibex and markhor as well as other smaller wildlife as freely as it desires. This big cat lives, breeds, feeds and is seen frequently in the Roshgol, Udren and Atahk, valleys of Terich, Chitral. The estimate was made in 1983-84 by pugmarks, predation reports, occasional sighting etc. It seems to have a good population in this region, and the number seems constant according to the estimates of 76 cats in Chitral Hindu Kush and the adjoining foothills. Traditionally the Snow Leopard is not hunted as there is no market for its parts nor is its meat edible under the rules of Islam so the cat is both religiously and legally protected. The law especially protects Snow Leopards and hunting one is culpable of punishment by imprisonment and fines. Under the government Wild Life Rules all kinds of wild life is protected and watched by staff to check for illegal hunting.

These valleys host wild life like markhor, ibex, Snow Leopards, wolves, foxes, lynx, bears, snow cocks, partridges, quails, kites, vultures, crows, rooks, magpies, crows, falcons,* hawks, and a host of other species. The few found in years past have been cut and burned due to a shortage of other sources of fuel. The southern parts of Chitral have enough forest resources but a greater part to the north is barren, without many trees.

The highest section of this big chain of mountains lies within Chitral. The district of Chitral, in the extreme north of Pakistan, is hemmed in by lofty peaks of the Hindu Kush range and has scores of main and side valleys with the snow line at around 16,400 feet on the south faces and 14,800 feet on the north. TERICH VALLEY: SNOW LEOPARD SURVIVAL ISSUES,IN THE HIGH HINDU KUSH REGION OF CHITRAL. Snow Leopard Conservancy Save the Snow Leopard From Extinction That makes everyone a snow leopard protector. These items fund villagers in snow leopard regions as long as no snow leopard is killed in their area. Big Cat Rescue supports the Snow Leopard Trust by selling Erbis Enterprises items in our gift shop. Find out more about current snow leopard work.

Pdfpen snow leopard