31/07/2025
Pakistan Reveals First Scientific Estimate of Snow Leopard Population
Islamabad, July 31, 2025
Pakistan has, for the first time, unveiled a scientific estimate of its snow leopard population, marking a major step forward in wildlife conservation. The announcement was made by Dr. Muhammad Ali Nawaz, the founding director of the Snow Leopard Foundation, during the Pakistan Wildlife Protection Awards 2025 ceremony in Islamabad.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Nawaz said that the survey was the result of around 15 years of continuous fieldwork, including camera trapping, data analysis, and tracking in some of the most remote and rugged regions of Pakistan. Until now, the population of snow leopards in the country had only been estimated through guesswork and assumption.
According to the findings, Pakistan is home to an estimated 167 snow leopards, making it the fourth largest range country in the world for this rare and elusive species. The population is distributed across three major mountain regions:
118 in the Karakoram-Pamir range, with a margin of ±22
24.3 in the Hindu Kush, with a margin of ±12.1
12.5 in the Himalayan range, with a margin of ±9
Snow leopards are known for being highly elusive and difficult to study. They are also extremely sensitive to environmental changes, making them vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss.
Dr. Nawaz emphasized the ecological importance of snow leopards, calling them a “keystone species.” As top predators, they help maintain balance in the ecosystem by regulating populations of other wildlife species.
“Protecting the snow leopard means protecting the entire ecosystem of Pakistan’s high mountains,” he said.
The formal unveiling of the population estimate was done by Federal Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Shezra Mansab Kharal, alongside Federal Secretary Ms. Aisha Humera Chaudhry and Wildlife Ambassador Senator Jamal Khan Leghari. Together, they revealed the population banner, symbolizing a new era of data-driven wildlife conservation in Pakistan.
This scientific milestone is expected to inform future conservation policies, improve protection efforts, and strengthen Pakistan’s role in regional and global efforts to save this iconic species.