OT Staff & Waquar Habib
China is home to about 4,500 snow leopards across Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Its vast plateaus and national reserves make it the world’s largest snow leopard stronghold.
Mongolia shelters roughly 1,000 snow leopards in the Altai and South Gobi. Community monitoring and low human interference sustain thriving populations across its rugged, wind-swept highlands.
India has around 520 snow leopards in Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal. Conservation programmes and camera-trap surveys continue to strengthen protection across the Himalayan belt.
Nepal supports 300–400 snow leopards in its Himalayan parks. Community patrols, transboundary initiatives, and eco-tourism efforts contribute significantly to conservation and better livelihood opportunities for locals.
Pakistan hosts 250–420 snow leopards in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Hindu Kush. Protected zones and anti-poaching efforts have improved conservation despite difficult terrain and limited resources.
Kyrgyzstan’s 250–400 snow leopards roam the Tien Shan mountains. Ranger-led monitoring and habitat protection projects help balance pastoral activities with sustainable conservation outcomes.
Tajikistan sustains around 200 snow leopards in the Pamirs. Community partnerships and cross-border conservation programmes have helped curb poaching and strengthen local stewardship.
Kazakhstan’s 180–200 snow leopards are mainly found in the Altai and Tien Shan. Scientific studies and protected corridors ensure stable habitats across these remote alpine regions.
Bhutan protects 100–200 snow leopards in reserves like Jomolhari and Sakteng. Strict conservation policies and eco-tourism maintain one of Asia’s most intact snow leopard habitats.
Afghanistan’s estimated 200 snow leopards survive in the Hindu Kush and Wakhan Corridor. Despite challenges, NGOs and local rangers work to protect these elusive mountain cats.