Researchers have documented a population of snow leopards high in Afghanistan’s mountains, according to the World Conservation Society. To observe the elusive cats without disturbing their activity, scientists deployed camera traps, rugged devices that capture images and video in some of the planet’s most challenging terrain. The footage comes from elevated ridges, deep gorges, and misty passes where these big cats roam at elevations that push both people and gear to the limit.
Snow leopards rank among the most endangered big cats. In the past sixteen years, experts estimate the species has declined by about twenty percent, with current wild numbers likely between 4,500 and 7,500 individuals globally. Afghanistan’s rugged landscape sits within the species’ broader range, so new evidence of a viable population there matters for regional conservation planning across borders.
Described as a hopeful sign for snow leopards in Afghanistan, the finding illustrates how reliable monitoring and protection can support populations even in remote frontiers.
Threats persist, including poaching for furs and the risks shepherds face as they safeguard flocks. Habitat loss grows as human communities expand into high country, reducing wild spaces and increasing contact with livestock.
Camera traps were placed in the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, and they recorded footage from sixteen locations across the region.
This marks the first time camera traps have been used in this area to document snow leopards, establishing a new baseline for future monitoring.
Ultimately, the finding underscores the value of long term fieldwork in remote border areas. It demonstrates how international collaboration, supported by local stewardship and responsible funding, can shed light on the status of this fragile species and point the way toward concrete steps to protect critical habitat and reduce human-wildlife conflict in Afghanistan and neighboring areas.