Success: Snow Leopards No Longer ‘Endangered’

Target: Dr. Tom McCarthy, Executive Director of Panthera’s Snow Leopard Program

Goal: Applaud that snow leopards are no longer classified as endangered and that their global population is increasing.

Snow leopards were recently declassified as being endangered, thanks in part to petitions like ForceChange’s End the Murder of Rare Snow Leopards. The species had spent 45 years on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Snow leopards are now classified as vulnerable to extinction rather than endangered. According to conservation expert Dr. Tom McCarthy, there must be fewer than 2,500 mature snow leopards undergoing a rapid rate of decline to be classified as endangered. Experts, including Dr. McCarthy, deduced that even their most conservative estimates of the global snow leopard population from their three-year study would be 4,000.

Snow leopards are still at an elevated risk of extinction from habitat destruction, lack of food, livestock farmers revenge killing snow leopards who eat their livestock, and poachers who kill the creatures for their beautiful fur. However, this new classification is still progress and provides hope that we can save these gorgeous animals.

Sign below to applaud that conservation efforts to save these animals are working and there’s a hopeful future for snow leopards.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Dr. McCarthy,

Thanks to your work and research, snow leopards are no longer classified as endangered. Continued awareness and legislation around this issue will hopefully make it so snow leopard populations are happy and healthy and no longer at risk of extinction.

Snow leopards are dazzling creatures, which is why it’s so vital that we do everything we can to protect them. I applaud your efforts and will continue to fight with you so that these animals will be saved.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: NAPARAZZI