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Snow Leopards Found In
Afghanistan
A snow leopard in the mountains of Central Asia
July 15, 2011
Endangered snow leopards have been spotted in one of the more peaceful
areas of Afghanistan.
The World Conservation Society said the usually solitary animals have been
tracked across the Wakhan Corridor, in the northeast of the country where
militant activity is low.
Listed as globally threatened, only some 4,500 to 7,500 snow leopards
exist, scattered across a dozen nations in the high mountain ranges of
Central Asia.
The cats are poached for their pelts and killed by shepherds guarding their
flocks from the potential predators.
"This is a wonderful discovery. It shows that there is real hope for snow
leopards in Afghanistan. Now our goal is to ensure that these magnificent
animals have a secure future as part of Afghanistan's natural heritage,"
Peter Zahler, the World Conservation Society's deputy Asia director, said
in a statement.
The World Conservation Society has been working in the Wakhan Corridor
since 2006 to preserve wildlife like the Marco Polo sheep and the ibex.
In tandem with the U.S. government's aid arm, USAID, the World
Conservation Society says it works with all schools in Wakham to teach
conservation. It says it has also trained 59 rangers to monitor wildlife.
The New York-based group has also started a scheme to compensate
shepherds for livestock lost to predators.
Snow Leopards Found In Afghanistan - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2011
Afghanistan
A snow leopard in the mountains of Central Asia
July 15, 2011
Endangered snow leopards have been spotted in one of the more peaceful
areas of Afghanistan.
The World Conservation Society said the usually solitary animals have been
tracked across the Wakhan Corridor, in the northeast of the country where
militant activity is low.
Listed as globally threatened, only some 4,500 to 7,500 snow leopards
exist, scattered across a dozen nations in the high mountain ranges of
Central Asia.
The cats are poached for their pelts and killed by shepherds guarding their
flocks from the potential predators.
"This is a wonderful discovery. It shows that there is real hope for snow
leopards in Afghanistan. Now our goal is to ensure that these magnificent
animals have a secure future as part of Afghanistan's natural heritage,"
Peter Zahler, the World Conservation Society's deputy Asia director, said
in a statement.
The World Conservation Society has been working in the Wakhan Corridor
since 2006 to preserve wildlife like the Marco Polo sheep and the ibex.
In tandem with the U.S. government's aid arm, USAID, the World
Conservation Society says it works with all schools in Wakham to teach
conservation. It says it has also trained 59 rangers to monitor wildlife.
The New York-based group has also started a scheme to compensate
shepherds for livestock lost to predators.
Snow Leopards Found In Afghanistan - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2011
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