Zoonotic pathogens threaten humans, snow leopards in High Asia: Policy brief

What is the News?

According to a report, the remote mountains of inner Asia could witness future pandemics which could threaten both humans as well as non-human species such as snow leopards.

About Snow Leopard

– Scientific Name: Panthera uncia

– Habitat: It lives at high altitudes in the steep mountains of Central and Southern Asia, where the climate is extremely cold.

– Diet: Snow leopards are carnivores that actively hunt their prey.

– Range Countries: It is found in 12 range countries namely Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

– India: It is found in higher Himalayan and trans-Himalayan landscape in the states/union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

– State Animal: It is the State animal of Himachal Pradesh

– Indicator Species: Snow Leopard (also known as Ghost of the mountains) acts as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live. It is because of their position as the top predator in the food web.

– Snow Leopard capital of the world: Hemis, Ladakh.

– IUCN Red list Status: Vulnerable (VU)

– CITES: Appendix I

– Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I

– It is also listed in the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

About Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) 

– GSLEP is a unique alliance of range country governments and non-governmental partners established in 2013.

– Origin: In the 2013 Bishkek Declaration, the 12 snow leopard range countries endorsed a comprehensive, long-term Global Snow Leopard Conservation Program.This led to the launch of GSLEP

– Aim: To address high-mountain development issues using the conservation of the charismatic and endangered snow leopard as a flagship.

– Secretariat: Its program Secretariat is based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Source: This post is based on the article “Zoonotic pathogens threaten humans, snow leopards in High Asia: Policy brief” published in Down To Earth on 30th October 2021.