A safe environment for snow leopards

Chester Zoo supporters will already be familiar with the snow leopards we care for on-site. Chester Zoo is part of a European Endangered Species Programme supporting an insurance population of these beautiful but vulnerable big cats. Meanwhile, in the harsh but beautiful Himalayan mountains, wild snow leopard (Panthera uncia) populations face increasing pressures.


Asia’s high mountains are known as the Third Pole, and are home to local and indigenous communities who share space with the iconic snow leopard. High mountain ecosystems are unique, sensitive and ecologically critical as they serve as watersheds for a third of the planet’s population, in addition to being home to the snow leopard and other threatened biodiversity.


There are an estimated 4,000 snow leopards left in the wild and the species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN red list. They contend with poaching, trapping for the illegal wildlife trade where pelts and other body parts are trafficked, and habitat loss. They are also subject to persecution in areas where their territories overlap with farms and settlements.

Hooved livestock compete for sparse resources such as grasses and forbs which grow sparsely in the mountainous terrain, with wild ungulate species like the ibex (mountain goat), markhor, blue sheep and argali (mountain sheep), which snow leopards depend on for survival. As these wild prey species diminish due to competition with livestock, snow leopards can turn to livestock to survive. In turn, farmers kill snow leopards to protect their herds and livelihoods. The farmers largely being pastoralists themselves face uncertainty as climate change impacts grazing areas..

Sea Buckthorn is a hardy plant, able to grow at high altitudes and withstand heat and cold. Its berries can be used to make medicinal oils, teas and animal food.

The project supports people living in the Ala-Too Mountains to plant and cultivate sea buckthorn crops and sell the berries and sea buckthorn berry products.

These shrubs have intrinsic biodiversity value as they stabilise soil and provide shelter for small animals, and the resulting income from produce helps communities diversify their livelihoods and reduces over-reliance on herding. 

Beekeeping offers another biodiversity-friendly income stream. The project has provided four communities so far with training and equipment to harvest honey from hives. Families sell or trade honey, as well as making use of it themselves.