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    Photos: Elusive Snow Leopards Thrive in Surprising Spot

    By OurAmazingPlanet Staff LiveScience.com | LiveScience.com – Thu, Jul 14, 2011

    Thanks to the vigilant eye of camera traps stationed high in Afghanistan's remote northeast mountains, researchers have uncovered exciting news: A population of endangered snow leopards, one of the most elusive big cats on the planet, is thriving in the region.

    The big cats live among the dramatic peaks of the desolate Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land 220 miles (354 kilometers) long, and sandwiched between Tajikistan to the north, Pakistan to the south, and a tiny border with China to the east.

    Camera traps captured shots of the spotted cats at 16 different locations across the region, the first time the technology has been used in Afghanistan to document the rare animals.

    "This is a wonderful discovery; it shows that there is real hope for snow leopards in Afghanistan," said Peter Zahler, deputy director for Asia Programs at the Wildlife Conservation Society, in a statement.

    Although snow leopards once roamed many of Central Asia's mountain regions, the species has suffered declines as high as 20 percent in the last 16 years. Researchers with the Wildlife Conservation Society, the organization that conducted the camera trap studies, say a mere 4,500 to 7,500 snow leopards still wander in the wild.

    "Now our goal is to ensure that these magnificent animals have a secure future as a key part of Afghanistan's natural heritage," Zahler said.

    A Wildlife Conservation Society study examining the plight of snow leopards in Afghanistan — the species is threatened by poaching, the illegal pet trade and run-ins with angry shepherds who don't appreciate the cats eating their charges — was published in the June 29 issue of the Journal of Environmental Studies.

     

    1,757 comments

    • A Yahoo! User  •  10 mths ago
      I have a feeling it's going to be the profiteers from the Chinese "Traditional medicine" business that will be the biggest threat to them.

      Sadly, with as impoverished and corrupt as the countries these cats are ranging in, I suspect it won't be hard for those profiteers to find locals to pay off and take huge risks to hunt them.

      If that comes to pass, I can only hope that said local hunters die by the shed load without catching even one leopard.
    • Peter
      Peter  •  10 mths ago
      Now I am worried for their safety! When Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and other fur-loving witches find out about this they will demand for their beautiful furs to be in their closets of murders!
      • paul
        paul 10 mths ago
        I bet your one of those maniacs who throw paint on people who have on fur coats. I've had lots of fun putting people like you in the hospital for many years now
      • Peter
        Peter 10 mths ago
        You're totally wrong! What I wanted to do is skin those bitches alive! They should feel what those innocent animals felt while they were being skinned alive just to satisfy those peoples' love for fur!
    • Ron H
      Ron H  •  10 mths ago
      They are now the Native Americans of the cat world. Enjoy the short life you have left.
    • kevin
      kevin  •  10 mths ago
      The media is so stupid...why would you advertise the location of these animals? Now the people who enjoy killing them know where to look. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
      • Susan M
        Susan M 10 mths ago
        I thought the same thing. There goes the fu--ing population asses. God I just HATE where we are today. The world has gone to f-ing rot.
      • Lonnie
        Lonnie 10 mths ago
        PROBABLY GET GUIDED TOUR FROM CIA
      • Running Elk
        Running Elk 10 mths ago
        Way to go, MORONS! You just told the hunters and poachers where to look! Are you actually that stupid? Do you people have any functioning brain cells? Does't look like it!
    • BRIDGET
      BRIDGET  •  10 mths ago
      Snow Leopards are such beautiful big cats. I hope that the remain safe and that poachers do not go after them.
      • Chris
        Chris 10 mths ago
        Thanks for telling where these cats are right down to the location, now poachers know where to locate them and drive their numbers even lower. Rediculous.
      • Tony
        Tony 10 mths ago
        Thats what im saying, lol
      • Josh
        Josh 10 mths ago
        I've been to this region, not many human beings have. Don't worry about poachers. The reason they thrive there is because it's virtually inaccesible overland. We had to fly in. Most topographical maps of that area say "No Data" in large blank spaces because elevation contour lines are so close togeather! In lamens terms, the terrain is too rugged to map out!
    • Azzahari
      Azzahari  •  10 mths ago
      It looks like the Wildlife Conservation Society is working with the poachers & the illegal pet trader ....... By giving out the Snow Leopard location.
      Damage Done ....now how are they going to protect this specis ? work with the Tajikistan , Pakistan or china goverment To protect them ?
      Since they have publish the snow Leopard population .....they should be there controlling the traffic.
      • gypsy
        gypsy 10 mths ago
        just awful!!!!
      • Paul
        Paul 10 mths ago
        no kidding...beautiful cats...nobody should be wearing them
        leave them alone. I live in grizzly country and feel the same way about them...we have enough rugs.
      • LordViperScorpion
        LordViperScorpion 10 mths ago
        Just give me some guns, ammo, and supplies and I will kill all the poachers you want me to kill.
    • Marie-Linda
      Marie-Linda  •  10 mths ago
      NOW THAT YOU HAVE ANNOUNCED THE LOCATION OF THE CATS TO POACHERS, WILL YOU NOW GIVE THEM THE PROTECTION NEEDED IN ORDER NOT TO
      ENDANGER THIS SPECIE?
      • Sopwith Special
        Sopwith Special 10 mths ago
        only a retarded poacher would look to Yahoo! for wildlife location information...
    • I love my Jack Dempsey Ci ...
      I love my Jack Dempsey Ci ...  •  10 mths ago
      That's interesting they were found. Now please leave them alone!
    • Softball.
      Softball.  •  10 mths ago
      If we leave them alone, they will thrive. If humans get involved, they will be an endangered species in just a few years.
    • R
      R  •  10 mths ago
      How about Yahoo! post an article of the whereabouts on poachers instead!
    • Roxx San
      Roxx San  •  10 mths ago
      They WERE thriving..until this article came out.
    • RoseH
      RoseH  •  10 mths ago
      Please Leave them alone! Please Leave them alone!
    • Judge
      Judge  •  10 mths ago
      OMG they said where they are??
      IDIOTS! They'll be poached for Chinese sex meds by the end of the yr.
    • BobD
      BobD  •  10 mths ago
      Oh, good...Now the poachers will know where to find them..Dumb. Some times it isn't smart to share info.
    • Cynthia W
      Cynthia W  •  10 mths ago
      Hope and pray they remain hidden.
    • J
      J  •  10 mths ago
      Nice...now all the poachers know just where to find them
    • Shelby
      Shelby  •  10 mths ago
      I really wish they had not disclosed the location of these cats. It would be better if their location would be kept more-or-less secret, in order to decrease poaching risk.

      But, it is a wonderful discovery, as long as these beautiful cats are kept safe.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  10 mths ago
      If those so called Reasearchers really wanted to protect that specie, they should have kept it in secret. Knowing the screwy ways of humanity there won't be much time till you get poachers, animal merchants, etc going after them.
    • Sol DuRorr
      Sol DuRorr  •  10 mths ago
      We can find these cats with a dozen well placed camera traps. Osama Bin Laden? Ten years, two wars, 5000 American lives and billions of dollars. Very nice.
    • Crazy man is loose
      Crazy man is loose  •  10 mths ago
      Well !@#$ why did they have to say in the regional area they found them.. there goes another species... #$%$ poachers will kill them and sell the last 15 coats or clothing from their fur.... some people dont realise to not hide certain locations.
     Post a comment
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