Snow leopards matter to maintain natural balance

Reading a report, I came to know that ecological balance could be disrupted without the snow leopards. After reading this statement, I searched a lot of written material about the snow leopards, their habits and their lifestyle besides their presence in Pakistan. As we know already that every life matters to maintain Earth’s natural balance. Like humans, animals are equally important for climate change.

The minute we think of the world’s most majestic carnivores, we are confronted with two dominant reactions: fear and reverence. Sometimes, we usually view meat-eaters as ‘dangerous’ creatures that have matchless standing in the wild. Actually, they can be dangerous but their existence is currently at risk. Unlike tigers, snow leopards and their conservation have gained prominence recently.

Because of poaching and habitat loss, overall population of the snow leopards is at risk, according to statics. The high mountain habitat of snow leopards acts as a water storage tower on which people living downstream depend for drinking, irrigation and industry. These snow leopards are top predators in their environment, and the ecological balance can be disrupted without the distinctive leopards.

The snow leopards are mostly living on top of the Hindukush mountains and Karakoram range. Previous estimates show that around 400 snow leopards are living in Pakistan’s different snow-clad mountainous areas. In Pakistan, some dedicated organisations and individuals – besides relevant government agencies – are also working to address any kind of a threat to snow leopards and their ecosystem.

Through awareness campaigns, these organisations are working to educate people, especially in the high-altitude villages, about protecting and conserving snow leopards and other wild species. Even, these dedicated individuals are also working in metropolitan and cosmopolitan cities that are far from wildlife or jungle areas just to educate population to be careful about wildlife in the homeland.

Known for beauty and elusive nature, the snow leopards are lonesome animals. They usually come down to hunt which is why they have been called the ‘ghosts of the mountains’. These big cats are remarkable species that play a key role as prime predators for their high-altitude habitat. Currently, there are believed to be 3,500 and 7,000 snow leopards living in the wild. In Pakistan, snow leopard habitat is spread over an area of about 80,000km square.

Over 60 percent of the range is in Gilgit Baltistan where Khunjerab National Park and Karakoram National Park are well-known to make the core snow leopard area. It is a fact that these snow leopards can’t roar, and they have natural snowshoes. They are more closely related to tigers than they are to leopards. These carnivores are big jump champions. So, they shouldn’t be under any kind of direct or indirect threat from human activity.

Muhammad Huzaifa | Lahore