The snow leopard in Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz Republic is a mountainous with 94% of the country being above 1000 m and 41% above 3000 m. Snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan inhabit about 89,000 km2 and may number 300–350 individuals. Threats include poaching for skins and body parts, poaching and excess hunting of prey, and habitat fragmentation. While legal protection may have reduced trapping and killing of snow leopards, it is periodically reported from many parts of the country. Snow leopard research in Kyrgyzstan has significantly increased since 2014 with Snow Leopard Trust/Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan, Panthera, NABU, Objectif Science International-Panthera and Ilbirs Foundation surveying snow leopards in many parts of the cat's range. Despite the gradually expanding footprint of snow leopard research in the country, there remains a consistent need to expand into other areas, especially community-based conservation areas and hunting concessions.