Snow Leopard Award 2021 goes to BWCDO

Pakistani NGO awarded for its commitment and success in snow leopard conservation

May 31, 2022 - On silent paws, well camouflaged and rarely seen – the feared and revered "spirit of the mountains" faces the threat of extinction: As of today, only a few thousand snow leopard remain roaming the Asian high mountains. Retaliatory killing, poaching and habitat loss threaten their existence. But there is still hope: In Gilgit-Baltistan, where 80 percent of Pakistan's snow leopards live, the population of the rare big cats is gradually stabilizing. Over 90 snow leopards are now estimated to live in the region. This success is largely due to the commitment of the Baltistan Wildlife Conservation and Development Organization (BWCDO), the winner of the NABU Snow Leopard Award 2021.

To protect snow leopards and human livelihoods simultaneously, BWCDO is pursuing an innovative twofold strategy: snow leopard-proof corrals and financial support. For the protection of grazing animals, its team supports the built of secure corrals that prevent snow leopards from preying on livestock. So far, nine predator-proof corrals have been built and more are planned. At the same time, NABU and BWCDO work together to provide financial compensation for local livestock owners when animal losses occur during grazing activities. With success: this combination of protection and compensation has helped to reduce hostility toward snow leopards and prevent killings of the rare big cat.

NABU has been working with BWCDO for the conservation of snow leopards and supports BWCDO with their sustainability initiatives, such as introducing eco-friendly bags in Gilgit-Baltistan. BWCDO not only focuses on protecting snow leopards but also on providing quality education in remote areas of Northern Pakistan, established through its sister organization Iqra Fund. The educational campaign aims at raising awareness for environmental protection in Pakistan, thus creating a safe haven for the endangered snow leopards.

Due to Covid restrictions the Snow Leopard Award 2021 is being presented to BWCDO only today: The award was ceremoniously handed over to Ghulam Mohammad, representative of BWCDO, during his official visit to NABU in Germany. During his stay, he also met Jörg-Andreas Krüger, NABU President, and Thomas Tennhardt, NABU Director International, to exchange information about snow leopard conservation in Pakistan. For the first time, the award is being presented to Pakistan and its due credit goes to BWCDO’s team in Skardu which relentlessly worked for the conservation of the majestic snow leopards. For its outstanding work, the Pakistani NGO furthermore received international recognition by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and was awarded with the Equator Prize 2017. It is led by Dr. Shafqat Hussain, Rolex Award Laureate, and managed by Ghulam Mohammad, CEO of BWCDO. We congratulate and thank the team of Baltistan Wildlife Conservation and Development Organization for its passionate commitment to protect snow leopards and their habitat!

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