WWE Calls for a Quick Action to Protect the Endangered Snow Leopards in India

In the entire world, only 4000 snow leopards are left, out of which 500 are in India. A new report released by WWF reveals that unless an urgent action is taken, these leopards may get instinct owing to the climate change. The fragile mountain habitat needs to be conserved as soon as possible to save these leopards from extinction. A report titled, Fragile Connections: Snow leopards, people, water and the global climate, by WWF has revealed that more than one third of the snow leopard habitat is considered unsuitable for the wild cats. If not checked in time, it can severely damage their population which is already at a dangerously low level, reports Deccan Herald.

The report mentions how these tigers are dependent on the rivers that originate in the snow leopard territory an is an important source of daily water supply for them. "Climate change could drastically alter the flow of water down from the mountains, threatening the livelihoods of vast numbers of people across the continent," it said. This year has also been marked as the International Year of Snow Leopards so that the world can be made aware and the respective authorities can take action to protect them before its too late, says Economic Times.

Over the years, 20% decline in the population of snow leopards can be attributed to loss of habitat as a result of degradation, community conflict and poaching. The biggest cause, however, remains the unchecked climate change that has only aggravated the threat to put the species in grave danger of annihilation, as per India Today. WWF said that as part of the snow leopard conservation strategy, they will conduct widespread research that includes camera traps and use of satellites to collect more data.