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and human encroachment, which have led to increased fragmentation of populations, and
possibly to isolation of western populations from those in the east.
Between 150 and 200 Snow Leopards are estimated to live in the Russian Federation, according
to comprehensive surveys undertaken in 2000 and 2001 (Poyarkov and Subbotin, 2002).
Tajikistan
In Tajikistan, Snow Leopards are found in the mountains in the east of the country, the main
population occurring in the Pamir region, in isolated patches of relatively good habitat
(Buzurukov and Muratov, 1994). Snow Leopards in Tajikistan are listed in the Red Data Book 3 ,
as ‘rare’ (Abdusaliamov, 1988). Little is known about the current status of the Snow Leopard
in Tajikistan, but populations are thought to be in decline. In 1990, Sokov estimated the total
population of Snow Leopards in Tajikistan at around 200-300 animals, but this figure has been
considered an over-estimate and others put the total population at 80-100 or 120-300 animals
(Buzurukov and Muratov, 1994). A more recent population estimate for Tajikistan suggests that
the total population is around 180-220 animals (E. Bykova, B. Grebot and E. Kreuzberg-
Mukhina, Institute of Zoology, Uzbekistan and London Imperial College, UK, in litt., 2002.).
Uzbekistan
Snow Leopards are known to occur in the eastern parts of Uzbekistan, in the mountains
bordering Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, where they have been reported from the Turkestanskiy,
Chatkalskiy and Gissarskiy ranges. The number of Snow Leopards in Uzbekistan is estimated
to be no more than 20-50 (Kreuzberg-Mukhina et al., 2002).
LEGAL STATUS AND REGULATION
At international level
CITES
Snow Leopards have been included in Appendix I of CITES since 1975 and hence all international
commercial trade in the species, its parts and derivatives is prohibited in those countries
which are Parties to this Convention. This includes all Snow Leopard range States apart from
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, although some range States joined the Convention only recently and
in others CITES is not fully implemented (see Table 2). Afghanistan, for example, which joined
CITES in 1986, has yet to submit an annual report.
Other provisions of CITES relate to Snow Leopards, notably the following, adopted at the
twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, in November 2002:
•
Resolution Conf. Res. 12.5 on the Conservation of and trade in Tigers and other Appendix-I
Asian big cat species. This Resolution of the CITES Parties formally recognizes that all
Asian big cats are threatened by illegal use and trade. It calls upon CITES Parties to
improve efforts to combat the illegal killing of, and trade in, Asian big cats, at national,
regional and international levels.
FADING FOOTPRINTS: the killing and trade of Snow Leopards 11