Pledge for conservation of snow leopard

Islamabad
Federal Minister for Climate Change, Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan, has pledged to converge conservationists and wildlife experts from all over the country on one platform and tap their expertise for conservation and protection of snow leopard in Pakistan, which is fast nearing extinction due to illegal hunting and various threat it its habitat.
Addressing a press conference here at the committee room of the Ministry of Climate Change, the minister counting various threats to the snow leopard in the country said that habitat degradation and fragmentation, reduction of natural prey due to illegal hunting, Retribution killing for livestock loss and now recently melting glaciers due to global warming are among major threats that have brought the beautiful cat to near extinction, which is integral part of biodiversity and natural beauty.
As a part of present government’s commitment regarding biodiversity conservation and protection at all levels, we will make all-out efforts in support with the conservationists and wildlife experts to save snow leopard from extinction, the minister stressed.
“In recognition of present government’s efforts for protection and conservation of the snow leopard, I was unanimously elected as chairman of the 12-countries global steering committee of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) programme after representatives of the 12 range countries, where snow leopard is found, voted in his favour,” the minister recalled.
Kyrgyzstan was elected as Co- Chair of the Global Steering Committee.
The voting was held during the concluding session of the two-day first international steering committee meeting of the GSLEP programme at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan on March 20 this year.
The countries, which cast their votes in Pakistan’s favour included: Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the minister said and added that this is a remarkable achievement for Pakistan, whose conservation efforts for the snow leopard and ability to lead other 12 snow leopard range countries was recognized at the global snow leopard conservation forum.
The global meeting was attended by ministers, bureaucrats, and conservation organisations from these 12 counties.
Mushahid Ullah Khan said that the beautiful cat, which lives in Pakistan’s north, is one of the most mysterious animals and information about its habits. But unfortunately, its habitat is least explored.
“It is a symbol of impregnable and majestic mountains of Pakistan and is one of the main indicators of health of highland ecosystems,” the minister highlighted.
This cat species is found in the world’s only 12 range countries and Pakistan is among them. The other countries include countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Talking about total population all over world, Mushahid Ullah Khan said, “Currently, the global population estimates of snow leopard are between 4,000 and 6,000 animals. In Pakistan, its total population has been estimated between 200 and 400 and is found in different pockets in high mountain tracks of Hindukush, Himalayas and Karakorum spread over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.”
While the population of the beautiful wild cat is fast shrinking due to various threats, it is necessary to change the situation and immediately make decisions on conservation of snow leopards, Mushahid Ullah Khan underlined.
Talking about Pakistan’s snow leopard conservation initiatives, the minister said that Pakistan has prepared its National Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (NSLEP). Besides, a National Steering Committee to implement NSLEP would be established soon.