Protecting Snow Leopards

Thank you for supporting David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) Protecting Snow Leopards.

For 2022/2023 DSWF continues to fund ground-based conservation partners dedicated to snow leopard conservation in Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. There are an estimated 200-400 snow Leopards in Kyrgyzstan and 800-1100 in Mongolia, and they are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

Kyrgyzstan

In the next year funding will go towards a conservation education programme for children in Kyrgyzstan who share their habitat with snow leopards. The project has two core goals:

• To empower children to become active participants in conservation of snow leopards and other wildlife/biodiversity through enhanced knowledge, values, skills, and opportunities for conservation action. This will be done through the development of educational materials and eco summer camps amongst other activities.
• To equip teachers in remote mountain communities with the resources and support to integrate quality environmental education into the standard curriculum.

The education project will have a long-term conservation impact. In concert with other conservation programs, this project will make children feel more connected to nature and become “ambassadors” for snow leopard conservation within their local communities, which will help secure long-term viability of snow leopards and other threatened species in Kyrgyzstan.

Mongolia

DSWF continue a multi-pronged approach to snow leopard conservation in Mongolia which reduces threats to the snow leopard and its prey species. Funding in the 2022/2023 year will go towards the following areas:

• Community-based income-generating projects designed to support both wildlife and local communities who coexist, including providing economic opportunities to at least 140 women and providing livestock insurance to local herders.
• Ongoing management and patrolling of Tost Nature Reserve, a key Snow Leopard habitat.
• Education to raise conservation awareness, including summer camps for local children.
• Rigorous research to improve our understanding of snow leopards and their prey including through the collaring of Snow Leopards and Ibex, camera trapping and wildlife surveys.

The expected impact of which will allow 12,000 km2 of snow leopard habitat to be protected through conservation efforts and greater tolerance towards predators due to improved education, community engagement, and compensation, along with valuable research providing a greater understanding of threats to snow leopards.

Find out more about our work with snow leopards

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) would love to keep you up-to-date with how your generous support is making a difference, share exciting wildlife conservation stories and tell you about forthcoming campaigns, fundraising initiatives and events. Please let us know how you would like to hear from us via our online form: Stay In Touch