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  • Press
  1. Topics
  2. Species
  3. Snow Leopard
  • Snow leopards
  • Safe haven for snow leopards
  • Coexistence between human and snow leopard
  • Sustainable Yak husbandry
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Protecting snow leopards

Wild, beautiful and endangered

Snow leopards are among the most endangered big cats on earth. Only 4,000 to 6,400 animals now live in the wild. NABU has been committed to the survival of snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan since 1999 and has extended its commitment to Tajikistan, Pakistan and Nepal.

Snow leopards are the only big cats that cannot roar - photo: Andy Fabian

Snow leopards are the only big cats that cannot roar - photo: Andy Fabian

Snow leopards are among the most endangered big cats on earth. In Kyrgyzstan, where some 1,400 animals roamed the mountain ranges in the 1980s, only 285 snow leopards are estimated to live in the country in 2025. Although poaching has long been forbidden by law, they are still ruthlessly hunted and their habitat continues to be encroached upon by humans.


snow leopard - photo: Gerard Lacz/stock.adobe.com

snow leopard - photo: Gerard Lacz/stock.adobe.com

NABU's commitment to the protection of big cats in Kyrgyzstan goes back to the '90s. Since 1999, the anti-poaching unit ‘Gruppa Bars’ in Kyrgyzstan is taking action against poaching and illegal trade, and various environmental education programmes are contributing to raising awareness. ‘Gruppa Bars’ has already confiscated scores of snow leopard skins and bones and freed living snow leopards from foothold traps. Dozens of poachers have been arrested and convicted. In the patrol area of the ‘Gruppa Bars’, poaching has declined significantly, which emphasises the importance of our work on the ground. 

Together with the Kyrgyz government, NABU is also working on recording data on snow leopards nationwide and agreeing on trans­national protective measures at the Snow Leopard Conference.

NABU has now extended its commitment to the protection of snow leopards to Tajikistan, Pakistan and Nepal, where the association is working with partner organisations on a community-oriented basis and is working to prevent human-animal conflicts. The goal is to improve the image of the snow leopards, for example through burglar-proof stables for domestic animal herds and an insurance system for cattle ranchers.


NABU commitment to the snow leopard at these levels

➣ In Kyrgyzstan a specially trained anti-poaching unit, the ‘Gruppa Bars’, puts a stop to poachers
➣ Injured animals are cared for in a new rehabilitation centre in Suluu-Terek
➣ In the local communities, environmental education ensures the necessary acceptance
➣ We help to improve the management of protected areas and pastures
➣ Monitoring work contributes to the study of snow leopards


  • Snow leopards are among the most endangered big cats on earth. Only 4,000 to 6,400 animals now live in the wild - photo: Andy Fabian

    Snow leopards are among the most endangered big cats on earth. Only 4,000 to 6,400 animals now live in the wild - photo: Andy Fabian

  • The ranger group Gruppa Bars on the road in the mountains

    The ranger group “Gruppa Bars“ on the road in the mountains. The anti­poacher unit is taking action against poaching and illegal trade - photo: NABU/ Klemens Karkow

  • The work of the “Gruppa Bars“ is proving successful: with their help, more than 70 skins and several hundred weapons and traps have been confiscated - photo: NABU

    The work of the “Gruppa Bars“ is proving successful: with their help, more than 70 skins and several hundred weapons and traps have been confiscated - photo: NABU

  • A traditional yurt next to the environmental education centre in Kyrgyzstan, which was opened in 2018 - photo: UINI/ NABU

  • You can only protect what you know well. As part of its monitoring work, NABU employees setting up a photo trap in Kyrgyzstan - photo: Klemens Karkow

    You can only protect what you know well. As part of its monitoring work, NABU employees setting up a photo trap in Kyrgyzstan - photo: Klemens Karkow

  • Since 2013, NABU has been helping to determine the size of the snow leopard population in Kyrgyzstan and to test the effectiveness of protection efforts - photo: NABU

    Since 2013, NABU has been helping to determine the size of the snow leopard population in Kyrgyzstan and to test the effectiveness of protection efforts - photo: NABU

  • The snow leopard has many fans in Kyrgyzstan: Flashmob in Bishkek on the International Snow Leopard Day 2018  - photo: NABU

    The snow leopard has many fans in Kyrgyzstan: Flashmob in Bishkek on the International Snow Leopard Day 2018 - photo: NABU

  • NABU staff member Nurzat Iskakova. Through environmental education, we are doing educational work with cattle herders, pupils and the local population - photo: NABU

    NABU staff member Nurzat Iskakova. Through environmental education, we are doing educational work with cattle herders, pupils and the local population - photo: NABU

  • Participants of the second snow leopard summit which took place in Bishkek in 2017 - photo: NABU/ Johanna Huth

    Participants of the second snow leopard summit which took place in Bishkek in 2017 - photo: NABU/ Johanna Huth

  • In 2020, former Kyrgyz Ambassador Erines Otorbaev receives the Snow Leopard Award for his extraordinary contribution to the endangered big cat - photo: NABU/ Marco Philippi

    In 2020, former Kyrgyz Ambassador Erines Otorbaev receives the Snow Leopard Award for his extraordinary contribution to the endangered big cat - photo: NABU/ Marco Philippi

more

Snow leopard encounters a camera trap - photo: NABU Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan: Study counts 285 snow leopards

A new study demonstrates the encouraging upward trend of the snow leopard population in Kyrgyzstan since 2000. This study, conducted by the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program, was carried out with the help of NABU Kyrgyzstan. more →

The Nar Phu Valley in the north of Nepal - photo: stanciuc/ adobe.stock.com
Citizen Science in Nepal

In Nepal's Nar Phu Valley, conflicts often arise between snow leopards and people. While livestock owners fear for their livelihoods, snow leopards suffer under revenge killings. A project searches for ways to foster a peaceful coexistence between the species. more →

Caucasus Mountains - photo: Sergei Trepet
Mountains - Vulnerable giants

Mountains inspire and challenge us. Their biodiverse and fragile ecosystems provide indispensable services to humanity. However, these regions are vulnerable to the impact of the climate crisis and land use. NABU works tirelessly to protect these landscapes. more →

Tarsier in Indonesia - photo: Lara Shirin Bienkowski
Asia

Mountains, deserts, rainforests: Asia has an incredible range of ecosystems and species in need of conservation. In Central Asia, NABU has been active on the ground since the 1990s. In Southeast Asia, NABU and its partners focus on protecting and restoring rainforests in Sumatra and Sulawesi. more →

Contact

Katja Kaupisch
Katja Kaupisch
Co-Lead Asia/ Eastern Europe Katja.Kaupisch@NABU.de

READ MORE

Snow Leopard - photo: NABU/Luciano Foglia

Snow Leopard Award 2025

Are you passionate about snow leopard conservation? Apply for NABU's "Snow Leopard Award" by 14th September and win €5,000 for a joint project.

more
New rehabilitation centre in Suluu-Terek: NABU Kyrgyzstan/ Alimzhan Zhorobaev

Safe haven for snow leopards

Injured snow leopards can recover from their tribulations in the NABU wildlife rehabilitation centre, where they are nursed back to health.

more

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Related Topics

Snow leopard in NABU's outdoor enclosure and rehab centre in Ananyevo | photo: Christian Martischius & Sara Sun Hee Schuh

Species

Science tells us that, worldwide, 26,000 species go extinct every year. The consequences of their extinction are non-predictable.

read more
Malachite Kingfisher in Ethiopia - photo: Bruno D/'Amicis

Biodiversity

Ecosystem functioning needs to be seen as a global task. Therefore, NABU is active in 36 biodiversity hotspots and beyond.

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Where we work

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Where we work: Europe, Africa, Asia, Caucasus
Where we work: Europe, Africa, Asia, Caucasus Where we work

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