Snow Leopard Endangered: How Mongolia Saved the Snow Leopard Through Tourism
Two Snow leopard baby | Canva Images
In the icy ridgelines of Mongolia’s Altai Mountains, one of the world’s most elusive big cats makes its home, along with many other animals that makes Mongolia its home. Camouflaged against the rocky terrain and shrouded in mystery, the snow leopard has long captured imaginations of many people and cultures, but it’s also captured concern in most recent times for those who care about wildlife. For decades, the snow leopard has been endangered, its population dwindling due to poaching, habitat loss, and conflict with herders. The illegal wildlife trade is also a significant factor contributing to the endangerment of snow leopards, driven by unsustainable demand for their pelts and parts.
But in recent years, a remarkable conservation story has emerged from Mongolia. Through a combination of community-based tourism, local stewardship, and international support, the country has become a model for how tourism can help save endangered species like the snow leopard.
This is the story of how local herders, conservationists, and travelers worked together to protect one of the world’s most majestic and mysterious predators.
Are Snow Leopards Endangered Animals?
Yes. The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is officially listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, downgraded in 2017 from Endangered, but many conservationists argue that the species is still functionally endangered in much of its range. The distinction is important: while populations have stabilized or rebounded slightly in key areas, threats like poaching, habitat fragmentation, and climate change remain severe for the snow leopard population.
The potential snow leopard habitat in the Indian Himalayas includes regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Sikkim, with approximately 34,000 km² considered good habitat. Protected areas in these regions are crucial for the survival of the snow leopard population.
Main Threats to Snow Leopards:
Poaching: Snow leopards are hunted for their thick fur and bones (used in traditional medicine). The illegal wildlife trade significantly contributes to their endangerment, driven by unsustainable demand for their pelts and parts, which devastates snow leopard populations.
Retaliatory Killing: Herders sometimes kill them to protect livestock.
Habitat Loss: Infrastructure development and climate change are fragmenting the snow leopard's habitat. Rising temperatures, especially in regions like the Tibetan plateau, are making significant portions of this habitat unusable, exacerbating the challenges these leopards face.
Prey Decline: Fewer ibex and wild sheep mean hungrier leopards—and more livestock attacks.
How Many Snow Leopards Are Left in Mongolia?
Mongolia is one of the snow leopard’s strongholds, with an estimated 800 to 1,000 individuals—the second-highest population in the world after China. The global population is estimated at 4,000 to 6,500, though exact numbers are hard to pin down due to the species’ elusive nature.
Climate change significantly impacts the remaining snow leopards, particularly on the Tibetan plateau, where warming temperatures threaten their habitat, vegetation, and water supplies.
Key habitats in Mongolia include:
Altai Mountains
Gobi-Altai Range
Khangai Mountains
Surveys using camera traps, snow tracking, and genetic analysis have revealed stable or increasing numbers in some regions, thanks largely to community-driven conservation and tourism. Protecting these areas is crucial for maintaining the snow leopard's range and ensuring their survival across their natural habitat.
Altai Mountains is a key habitat for the snow leopard in Mongolia | Photo by Dimitry Pichugin
Why Is the Snow Leopard Endangered?
Snow leopards occupy some of the most extreme habitats on Earth. Found at elevations of up to 5,500 meters (18,000 feet), they’re adapted to snow, solitude, and stealth. But this makes the snow leopard's vulnerability to threats like climate change and poaching particularly concerning. Rising temperatures and habitat loss threaten their populations, making significant portions of the snow leopard's habitat unusable.
Major Drivers of Snow Leopard Endangerment:
Conflict with Humans: As wild prey declines, snow leopards turn to livestock, triggering retaliation killings. A very similar situation that happens with other apex predators worldwide.
Poaching and Illegal Trade: Within the snow leopard range, poaching and unsustainable hunting practices pose significant threats. Pelts and body parts fetch high prices on the black market, leading to a decline in prey populations and directly impacting the snow leopards.
Climate Change: Climate change significantly affects the snow leopard population by altering their habitats. Shrinking snow lines push leopards into new areas, increasing human encounters and further endangering their numbers.
Infrastructure Expansion: Roads, mines, and fencing fragment key migration corridors.
Despite these threats, Mongolia has taken bold steps to fight back—with tourism at the center.
As many other predators, human conflict is one of the main threats for the snow leopards | Getty Images
Tourism as a Conservation Tool: Mongolia’s Snow Leopard Success Story
The Turning Point: Snow Leopard Enterprises (SLE)
Founded by the Snow Leopard Trust, SLE launched in Mongolia in the early 2000s as a way to provide economic incentives for herders to protect snow leopards. Herders signed agreements not to kill snow leopards or their prey in exchange for support selling handmade crafts. This initiative has also positively impacted the snow leopards' habitat by reducing human-animal conflict and promoting conservation efforts.
Results:
Over 400 herder families have participated
Snow leopard killings in participating areas dropped to near zero
Income from craft sales reduced dependency on livestock
Eco-Tourism and Snow Leopard Tracking Tours
In the last decade, Mongolia has developed small-scale wildlife tourism that puts conservation dollars directly into local hands. These include:
Snow leopard tracking expeditions in the Altai Mountains
Homestays with local herding families
Guided treks to camera trap locations and wildlife hotspots
Advanced surveillance methods, such as GPS collars, are now used to gather detailed information about snow leopards, including insights into their hunting habits and dietary preferences. This technology allows researchers to learn what and when snow leopards eat, providing a deeper understanding of their behavior in the wild.
Some companies offer low-impact snow leopard safaris that contribute to conservation funds and provide alternative income to poaching.
Snow Leopard | Photo by Michel Viard
Community Rangers and Conservation Jobs
Tourism has helped fund training for community rangers—locals who monitor snow leopard populations, manage camera traps, and enforce anti-poaching efforts. Involving locals gives them a stake in the survival of these cats.
Community rangers play a crucial role in monitoring the snow leopard's range, which is essential for understanding how climate change may alter their habitat and for implementing effective conservation strategies.
Scientific Research and Citizen Science
With the support of visiting tourists and international grants, Mongolian researchers have expanded their efforts:
Camera trap networks have mapped snow leopard ranges
Telemetry collars provide insights into movement and habitat use
Genetic analysis from scat samples informs population studies
In the Indian Himalayas, potential snow leopard habitat spans regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Sikkim. Approximately 34,000 km² is considered good habitat, emphasizing the importance of protected areas for the snow leopard population.
Tourists often get the chance to participate in conservation by helping set up camera traps or learning about ongoing field research—creating a direct connection between science and travel.
How Many Snow Leopards Are in the World?
Global estimates suggest 4,000 to 6,500 wild snow leopards remain across 12 countries. However, due to their elusive nature and vast, rugged habitats, actual numbers could be higher—or lower.
Climate change significantly impacts the remaining snow leopards, particularly on the Tibetan plateau, which has experienced significant warming. These temperature changes threaten not only the snow leopards but also the broader ecosystem, including vegetation and water supplies.
Top 5 countries by population:
China: ~2,000–2,500
Mongolia: ~800–1,000
India: ~400–700
Pakistan: ~300–400
Nepal: ~300–500
These numbers come from consolidated data from the IUCN, WWF, and Panthera. Mongolia’s relatively stable population makes it a cornerstone in global snow leopard conservation.
Snow leopard jumping from a tree
What Are the Other Endangered Animals in Mongolia?
Mongolia’s vast and varied landscapes are home to many endangered species, including:
Saiga Antelope – Critically endangered, found in steppe and desert habitats.
Pallas’s Cat – A reclusive feline also targeted by wildlife traffickers.
Argali Sheep – The world’s largest wild sheep, facing pressure from hunting.
Wild Bactrian Camel – Critically endangered, surviving in remote deserts.
Protecting snow leopards also helps safeguard these species through ecosystem-based conservation.
Saiga Antelopes are also endangered animals in Mongolia | Getty Images
Lessons from Mongolia: What Makes This Model Work
Mongolia’s snow leopard recovery didn’t happen by accident. Several key factors contributed to its success:
Local Buy-In – Conservation works when local people benefit directly.
Cultural Respect – Snow leopards have traditional value in Mongolian folklore.
International Partnerships – NGOs and governments collaborate effectively.
Scalable Tourism – Avoiding mass tourism, Mongolia focuses on quality over quantity.
Science-Based Strategy – Real-time data guides conservation plans.
How You Can Help Snow Leopards
Want to support the future of snow leopards and responsible tourism?
Travel with Ethical Operators – Choose tours that fund conservation and respect local culture.
Support NGOs – Donate to Snow Leopard Trust, WWF, or Panthera.
Buy Ethically – Support programs like Snow Leopard Enterprises.
Raise Awareness – Share their story on social media or in your community.
The Future of Snow Leopards in Mongolia and Beyond
Is the snow leopard endangered? Yes—but it’s also resilient. Thanks to innovative programs in Mongolia, this symbol of the high mountains is making a comeback. The blend of community involvement, scientific research, and low-impact tourism offers a blueprint for saving other endangered species.
If we continue to invest in people, protect habitats, and make wildlife part of the economy—not the black market—then snow leopards have a real chance at long-term survival.
Because when people come together to protect what they love, even the most elusive cat on Earth can find a path back from the edge
