There are relatively few snow leopards in the world, and it has likely been that way for a long time, a new study indicates.
There are relatively few snow leopards in the world, and it has likely been that way for a long time, a new study indicates. This situation increases their risk of extinction in a changing environment.
The Stanford-led research, published Oct. 7 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found very low genetic diversity among the elusive big cats, who have an estimated population of less than 8,000. They are also highly specialized to their habitat in the arid, mountainous regions of 12 Asian countries, including Russia, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Tibet.
“Snow leopards live in these really untouched areas, unlike other big cat species, which have suffered from human impact already,” said first author Katie Solari, a research scientist in biology in Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences. “They don’t have many individuals. They don’t have much genetic diversity. Snow leopards are just not well situated to deal with changes that are likely coming their way.”
Read More at: Stanford University
A snow leopard from Ladakh, India. (Photo Credit: Koustubh Sharma)
