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Saving threatened species in Afghanistan: snow leopards in the Wakhan Corridor

2011; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 68; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00207233.2011.577147

1029-0400

Anthony Simms, Zalmai Moheb, Salahudin Salahudin, Hussain Ali, Inayat Ali, Timothy S. Wood,

Animal Diversity and Health Studies

The Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan is an area known for relatively abundant wildlife and it appears to represent Afghanistan's most important snow leopard landscape. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been working in Wakhan since 2006. Recent camera trap surveys have documented the presence of snow leopards at 16 different locations in the landscape. These are the first camera trap records of snow leopards in Afghanistan. Threats to snow leopards in the region include the fur trade, retaliatory killing by shepherds and the capture of live animals for pets. WCS is developing an integrated management approach for this species, involving local governance, protection by a cadre of rangers, education, construction of predator-proof livestock corrals, a livestock insurance program, tourism and research activities. This management approach is expected to contribute significantly to the conservation of snow leopards and other wildlife species in the Wakhan.