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mountains, in Uvs province (Munkhtsog, 2002). The herder was fined USD10, had his gun
confiscated and had to pay USD160 in compensation for the Snow Leopard. In February 2003,
two Snow Leopard cubs were recorded killed in Govï-Altay province. The two cubs were
together with their mother, who had attacked livestock near a herder’s winter camp and killed
several goats (Munkhtsog, 2002). In such cases, where Snow Leopards are killed primarily to
reduce attacks on domestic livestock, most herders are nonetheless aware of the high prices
fetched by the animal’s body parts. The skins are often hung up in herders’ houses, and sold if
the opportunity arises. Sometimes the skeleton is also kept and sold to passing traders or at
local markets (Munkhtsog, 2002).
Credit: Tom McCarthy, International Snow Leopard Turst
Snow Leopard’s cave, in the Mongolian Gobi Desert
Trapping and killing for trade
The results of the trade survey conducted in Mongolia, in June and July 2002, provide only a
preliminary picture of the extent and scale of the trade in Snow Leopards in the country and
more research will be needed to complement these findings.
Political and economic changes that occurred in the early 1990s in Mongolia, largely in
response to the break-up of the Soviet Union, and increased trade liberalization within China
and other east Asian countries, affected the use and trade of wildlife in Mongolia. Statecontrolled
collective farms and co-operatives in Mongolia ceased to function, leaving
unemployment in their wake. This situation, coupled with emerging market opportunities, led
to increased exploitation of wildlife resources and subsequent trade in commodities in demand
by Chinese traders (Tsendjav and Batbold, 2002). Although no baseline data from before 1992
exist, concerns have been raised that illegal trade in Snow Leopard skins has increased in the
last 10 years (Munkhtsog, 2002). It is also feared that the existing demand for Snow Leopard
bones in China may increase poaching of Snow Leopards in Mongolia (Munkhtsog, 2002).
Although Snow Leopard bones have not been observed at wildlife markets in Mongolia, traders
as well as hunters seem to be increasingly aware of the potential for profit as a result of this
32 FADING FOOTPRINTS: the killing and trade of Snow Leopards