Climate change threatens the habitat of snow leopard

Research by the International Fund for Nature Protection (WWF) said that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase today, populations of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in the Himalayas could lose 30% of the environment. their life.

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With an increasing number of people, it is estimated that there are only between 4,000 and 6,500 individuals, snow leopard is being classified as endangered (EN) in the IUCN Red List. This leopard species usually resides in high mountain areas below 5,000m to hunt for prey but does not live in forested areas. When the climate gets hot, the humidity pushes the plants to grow faster and will gradually narrow the habitat of the snow leopard.

Snow leopard

This ability has been verified by the WWF team through the use of computational modeling and field observation in the highlands of the Himalayas - where snow leopard lives.

The study also found that the loss of habitat in the high mountains is not merely narrowing the living space of snow leopard but also making it easier for people to fall into the sights of humans. Because, when it is not possible to feed on familiar habitats, snow leopard is forced to migrate to lower altitudes and shift the target of hunting to the herds. This quickly turns them into enemies of humans.

To avoid pushing snow leopard to the brink of extinction, the researchers believe that in addition to monitoring the impact of climate change and finding solutions to adaptation, effective management, the government and its people need efforts. Minimize the threat of leopards, including illegal hunting, conflicts between people and wildlife, or grazing in the living area of ​​the snow leopard.

Through identifying climate-resilient and potentially tolerant areas of snow leopard populations, the team also stressed the need to strengthen cross-border collaborative efforts. Worlds to save rare leopard species from threats that are directly threatening their survival.