Tugrug Uugan - Erdene
The snow leopard is a rare and elusive predator of the high rocky mountains of Central Asia. The
Mongolian snow leopard population is estimated to be about 1000. The main distribution area is in the west and southwest region of the Mongolia. The species is classified Endangered in the IUCN/SSC
Red List. Main threats were identified to be: decreased the amount of wild prey available to snow leopards, increased the illegal hunting (poaching) of snow leopards, lack of living environment, lack of knowledge of the herders and community people about threatened animal species.
Project’s Main objective:
To increase the amount of wild prey available to snow leopards, decrease the number of livestock
killed by snow leopards and decrease the illegal hunting (poaching) of snow leopards, wild sheep and wild goats through trainings, awareness raising and lobby activities, educational materials, TV, radio programs in the main distribution area 5 sums (villages) of the Khovd Province, Mongolia.
Scientists estimate that there may only be between 3,920 and 6,390 snow leopards left in the wild.
The Mongolian snow leopard population is estimated to be about 1000. What snow leopards eat varies depending on their location, but the cat most often hunts wild sheep and wild goats.
Availability of wild prey is the most important factor that determines if an area can be suitable for the cats. Snow leopards are opportunistic predators and sometimes hunt livestock, especially stragglers that get left behind in pastures. In some cases, the snow leopard’s natural prey wild sheep and goats are not easily available because hunters have killed them for meat. When snow leopards attack domestic livestock, some herders retaliate by killing snow leopards. Snow leopards are an internationally recognized endangered species. It is illegal to kill snow leopards anywhere in the world. There are also laws to protect snow leopards within individual countries. So there are great needs to increase the amount of wild prey available to snow leopards, decrease the number of livestock killed by snow leopards and decrease the illegal hunting (poaching) of snow leopards in the main distribution area of Khovd Province, Mongolia.