The Endangered Snow Leopard and Threat to Other Species

uploaded by rumana husain September 4, 2008 at 02:07 am
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The Endangered Snow Leopard and Threat to Other Species by rumana husain

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The snow leopard, amongst many other animals, is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and listed as Endangered on the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Snow leopards are rarely sighted because of their remote habitat and elusive character.

The Fish and Wildlife Service Web site currently counts 1,074 animals and insects and 749 plants as endangered or threatened in either the United States or foreign countries.

In Pakistan, just having a pet or visiting a zoo satisfies people and they do not make serious efforts to contribute towards any campaign to save an endangered animal or towards the promotion of wildlife.

Deforestation is only one threat to the integrity of the ecosystem of Northern Pakistan. Extensive hunting is also a major problem, especially with the recent influx of modern weapons from the conflicts in Afghanistan. Populations of most large animals, including markhor, urial, Asiatic black bear, and monal pheasant have declined precipitously in recent years. There is an urgent need to address this issue through conservation education efforts and community based hunting bans and regulations.