Snow Leopards - An Endangered Specie

Snow Leopard

Last December WWF revealed some amazing photos of two snow leopard cubs frolicking in the remote mountains of Siberia. 

Snow leopards are one of the most endangerous wild cat species, and not long ago, on the 90's its population was almost decimated because of their incomparable skin. 

Credits: WWF Russia

The area is estimated to have been home to nearly 40 individuals at its peak, two decades ago, but during the 

90's the snow leopards' population was almost entirely destroyed by poachers. 

Before they became extinct, urgent measures were taken by the Russian Government in cooperation with the Altai Project and the Snow Leopard Conservancy, mainly consisting on several anti-poaching raids, guards and cameras  strategically placed on areas which were previously unpatrolled.

Several expeditions were made in order to collect data and see if the population showed positive signs of increasing on the last 5 years. The Altai Project counted at least 8 snow leopards on the area but anxiety was always present because cubs weren't seen or caught on cameras until now.

Looking at these pictures we cannot help wondering if we are not assisting to a turning point regarding a natural rehabilitation of the specie, on this remote place, in Siberia.

There are up to 6,000 snow leopards in the wild across 12 countries, but its numbers are gradually declining, with hunting and habitat loss among the contributors to its endangered status. 

Stretching across Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China, the Altai-Sayan ecoregion is one of the last remaining untouched areas on earth and is identified by WWF as a key global ecoregion.