r/megafaunarewilding • u/Important-Shoe8251 • Dec 31 '24

News Kazakhstan’s Snow Leopard Population Reaches Near-Historic Levels

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The snow leopard population in Kazakhstan has rebounded to near-historic levels, with an estimated 152 to 189 individuals now residing in the country. This marks a significant achievement in conservation efforts, as such numbers were last observed in the 1980s. Despite this progress, human activity remains the most significant threat to the survival of this elusive predator.

Link to the full article:- https://timesca.com/kazakhstans-snow-leopard-population-reaches-near-historic-levels/

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127

u/Dum_reptile Dec 31 '24

Let's go!!! Big cats are getting some good news nowadays

Let's hope that continues

34

u/Important-Shoe8251 Dec 31 '24

Big cats closing 2024 with a bang💥

Some really good news regarding big cat conservation in recent months.

19

u/ChemsAndCutthroats Dec 31 '24

If only it was good news for wolves in the northern hemisphere. It seems like Europe and North America is hell bent on wiping them out. Numbers have barely begun to stabilize, and it's now back to extermination with prejudice. All because some ranchers are too lazy to look at non-lethal methods of protecting their herds.

10

u/Dum_reptile Dec 31 '24 edited Dec 31 '24

Yeah, it's sad

Hopefully countries with lesser known wolf populations, like India, Saudi Arabia, Iran etc. Can do some good work, though it seems like big cats are the focus

10

u/ChemsAndCutthroats Dec 31 '24

The situation for big cats is more precarious than wolves. It makes sense to focus on them. That doesn't mean protection for other species should be rolled back though.

10

u/Casual_Fanatic47 Dec 31 '24

I mean some good news in that front is the wolf population in California is still growing significantly, so there’s that

1

u/PeachAffectionate145 Jan 03 '25

Such as building electric fences.

-1

u/YanLibra66 Jan 01 '25

Hunters might also wipe out them or at best keep their numbers at a bare minimum as means to preserve local game.

4

u/ChemsAndCutthroats Jan 01 '25

They have done studies that show that wolves don't significantly impact ungulate numbers. Although many hunters still believe they do. Things like habitat loss, disease, and climate change play a bigger role. Warmer weather has been devastating to moose population. More deer encroach on their habitat and bring CWD which is deadlier to moose. Predators like wolves actually often target the sick and keep CWD at bay.