Endangered
Snow leopards are endangered throughout their range in the high mountains of Central Asia. Demand on the black market for the snow leopardŐs beautiful spotted coat is one of the main reasons it is in danger. Also, loss of natural habitat due to increasing human and domestic livestock populations is causing the numbers of wild snow leopards to decrease. Because the snow leopard is so elusive it is hard to estimate how many are left in the wild. The number might be as few as 4,000.

Conservation Efforts
For almost 30 years, Woodland Park Zoo has had a special connection with snow leopards: 26 were born at WPZ since 1972, and considerable scientific work has been done at the zoo to improve captive management of the species. In 1998, the zoo joined the International Snow Leopard Trust's Natural Partnerships program at the "Country Partner" level, by contributing $10,000 to pay for the hiring of Ahmad Khan, an in-country conservation officer in Pakistan. Khan and his team conducted a snow leopard survey in Chitral Gol National Park and performed studies on prey species, including domestic animals. They trained park staff on wildlife survey techniques. Biologists even came from Afghanistan, where snow leopards also occur, to learn these same techniques.

For more info on the Snow leopard, click here.
For more info on the zoo's conservation efforts click here.