Briefing on Snow Leopards in Illegal Trade – Asia’s Forgotten Cats

A briefing prepared for the 2nd Asian Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation, in Bhutan, from 21-24 October 2012.

We outline how snow leopards remain seriously endangered across their range, threatened by habitat loss, conflict killing, prey loss and poaching for trade.

Seizure reports suggest that, aside from skins offered to our investigators, there have been recorded seizures of 151 snow leopard skins. In addition, the market appears to have shifted towards whole skins for taxidermy and luxury décor.