Why are snow leopards important to us?

Why are snow leopards important to us?

Snow leopards are considered a barometer of the health of the mountain ecosystem because of their wide range and position at the top of the food chain. The mountains where snow leopards live provide water to much of Central Asia, so the conservation of their habitat plays a role in ensuring water security.

How do snow leopards help humans?

Indeed, snow leopard habitat provides important resources for local communities – from food and medicine to grazing for livestock, and wood for shelter, heat and fuel. As well as water sources for millions of people downstream.

Why are snow leopards important to the food chain?

Snow leopards are apex predators, and they play a key role in maintaining the biodiversity in an ecosystem. “Through population dynamics and trophic cascades, snow leopards are an important indicator of the health of the environment and help regulate the populations of species lower on the food chain”.

Why are snow leopards vulnerable?

The sole predator of snow leopards? Humans. Hunting, habitat loss, declines in natural prey species, and retaliatory killings resulting from human-wildlife conflict are the main reasons this big cat is under threat.

Why do humans hunt snow leopards?

Snow leopards are poached for the illegal trade. They have long been killed for their beautiful fur, but their bones and other body parts are also used in traditional medicine. And this illegal trade seems to be increasing due to market demand for their parts.

Why do snow leopards need their habitat?

Snow leopards love this sort of habitat because it provides them with good cover to hide amongst rocks and cliffs when hunting. The cliffs and rocks ledges also give snow leopards protection as they merge very well into colors of rock with their beautiful camouflage fur color and rosettes.

Why is the snow leopard an endangered species?

The main reason snow leopards are endangered is habitat loss. More and more of its habitat is being developed into farmland. When this happens, the snow leopard loses not only its home, but also its food – it can no longer find enough animals to eat. Snow leopards are also hunted for their fur and their bones.

How do snow leopards protect itself?

Besides their sounds and camouflage, snow leopards use their teeth to eat meat . Another example of what they use their body parts for is their paws and claws. To clarify, they use their paws like snowshoes to help the animal walk on snow.Also,they use their claws to attack predators. These are just some of the ways snow leopards defend themselves.

What are snow leopards prey and predators?

Snow leopards are top predators in their environment, and their favourite prey are mountain sheep and goats. Without the snow leopard there may be too many of these herbivores, which would overgraze the sparse alpine plants on the mountains, leaving no food for other wildlife.