Animal News
Rare Snow Leopard Sighting in Pakistan Marks Conservation Success
A breathtaking video of four elusive snow leopards scaling the snowy cliffs of northern Pakistan has thrilled wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists.
The rare sighting, captured by local ranger and photographer Sakhawat Ali, is being hailed as a major milestone for Pakistan’s conservation efforts.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Sight
Snow leopards are famously difficult to spot in the wild, earning them the nickname “ghosts of the mountains.”
These big cats are known for their ability to blend seamlessly into the rocky landscapes of the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges.
Capturing even a single snow leopard on film is rare, but seeing four together especially a mother and her three cubs is virtually unheard of.
Ali, who is from the remote village of Hushe, spent two weeks tracking the leopards before finally spotting them on March 13. Watching from the roof of his house, he used binoculars to scan a nearby cliff when he noticed the mother.
Soon after, he spotted her cubs and quickly grabbed his camera to record the extraordinary moment from about 200 meters away.
“No one in our village, not even the elders, has ever seen four snow leopards together,” Ali told CNN.
His village celebrated the sighting, though some locals expressed concerns about their livestock being at risk.
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A Victory for Conservation Efforts
The snow leopard is classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change posing significant threats to the species.
Despite these dangers, conservation efforts in Pakistan are showing progress.
Dr. Zakir Hussain, a wildlife and parks administrator in Gilgit-Baltistan, called the sighting a “victory” for local conservation programs.
According to him, around 80% of community members are now actively involved in snow leopard tracking and protection initiatives.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Pakistan echoed this sentiment, saying that while the sighting is encouraging, continued efforts are necessary to protect these majestic creatures.
Climate change, habitat loss, and illegal hunting still threaten their survival, and collaboration between conservationists and local communities remains crucial.
With snow leopards inhabiting only high-altitude alpine regions across 12 countries — including China, Nepal, India, Russia, and Mongolia — the footage from Pakistan highlights the region’s significance as a stronghold for the species.
Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.
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