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The beautiful and exotic snow leopard has been listed as endangered species since 1972, but a glimmer of hope is now peaking through for these embattled mountain cats. After a 3-year assessment of population decline rates, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has upgraded the status of the snow leopard to 'vulnerable.'
"The wild cat species still faces a high risk of extinction in the wild and is likely still declining," conservationist Tom McCarthy stated. "Just not at the rate previously thought." These big cats are heavily hunted for their thick skin and bones, leading to a rapidly decreasing adult population in the wild. While the world should still be extremely worried about the status of these rare animals, we can at least celebrate their new condition as a small victory in the fight for their survival.
Snow leopards are native to Central Asia and are therefore considered important symbols of native culture in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and parts of Russia. Scroll down to celebrate these beautiful cats in all of their glory, and vote for the photos that make you wish you could adopt one.
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#1
Vlad Horobet 8 years ago
This is the reason they are endangered... Leopard in the back is like : "god damn it moon moon, not again..."
SAMANTHA SCHMIDT 2 years ago
so cute I feel so bad for the snow leopards and people need to stop killing them.
RELATED:
#2
Henrique Kenzo 8 years ago
They're no longer endangered? Great! Now let's keep it that way, please. o_o
Susan L. Miller 8 years ago
I just want to reach out and hug, hug, hug this gorgeous creature!!
#3
Vlad Horobet 8 years ago
I'm a hunter. I caught the fluffy danger noodle that was following me.
SAMANTHA SCHMIDT 2 years ago
poor thing their in danger their is only 5600 left in the world and 1 is getting killed every day.
#5
Vlad Horobet 8 years ago
How i sleep during the weekends knowing that is no alarm clock to wake me up to go to work.
Devina Whitehouse 4 years ago
I'm 10 and I Love To Use The Site Its A Cool Site And SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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#6
SAMANTHA SCHMIDT 2 years ago
poor thing he's in a glass cage they are sapose to be in the wild
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Missy Finley 8 years ago
That's what I look like when my boyfriend puts the ice tray back in the freezer with 1 ice cube left in it...
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MAYA SCHACHERER 5 years ago
me at hide and go seek when I have to go to the bathroom with out getting caught by the seeker
#11
Hetachia 5 years ago
Cause he related to tigers. They come from the same ancestor. Also cause of that they both don't roar. :D
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Jon Sleeper 8 years ago
"Well, I am a snow leopard. Guess I should be happy about this weather..."
#12
Missy Finley 8 years ago
How anyone could kill these beautiful creatures (or any creature) is just completely beyond my scope of reasoning.
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Devina Whitehouse 4 years ago
WOW! WHAT A PRETTY IMAGE AND WHAT A LONG TAIL! THESE ANIMALS ARE SO FASINATING
#16
CatShatBrix 8 years ago
Once again, the wise eyes of the mother leopard stares solemnly into the wilderness...
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Copper Vyxen 8 years ago
I squee'd. I squee'd so hard. I squee'd so hard, my co-workers thought I sat on a squeaky toy.
#20
Santino Marazzo 8 years ago
If only humans could learn to be like this, there would be no wars.
#21
Evie Heaven 8 years ago
If not that tongue at the side of the lips, I would agree...
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Sara Kate MacFarland 8 years ago
don't you hate it when something's caught in your back teeth?
#22
Yezid Puerto 8 years ago
no coffee,..., monday,..., raining,..., yep, that face....
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Missy Finley 8 years ago
No more drinks, no more bedtime stories, no more potty, GO TO SLEEP!!! --every parent ever
Copper Vyxen 8 years ago
"... and then... and the he said, that wasn't my car!" joked the snow leopard.
#24
Vlad Horobet 8 years ago
The risk I took climbing this tree was calculated. But man, am I bad at math...
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Devina Whitehouse 4 years ago
Nap Time Kids I'm So Tired ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
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Hamlets twin 8 years ago
IDK, he looks like something to chase just came into view
Load More Replies... Evie Heaven 8 years ago
why glass is green? why there is no snow? what is snow? mom told me about it...
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CatShatBrix 8 years ago
The background looks cartoonish... may be photoshopped, but a good pic nonetheless
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What do you think ?
ugaas wiilhoog 8 years ago
Let's hope the men and women keeping these magnificent creatures away from harm continue their good work up they still have some way to go.
Ed Mo 8 years ago
I don't understand why they're being removed from the endangered species list if their population is still in decline. A slower rate of decline is encouraging but this only stalls the inevitable unless greater conservation is enacted.
Marion Friedl 8 years ago
Yep they´re still poached for their fur, plz read my comment above!!! :(
Load More Replies... Marion Friedl 8 years ago
So pawsome, but snow leopard # 3 must be in some zoo, there´s a fence in front of him, the others´re in their natural habitat, but in my opinion they´ve been removed from the endangered animals list too soon, poachers still kill them for their fur, in China some people pay thousands of $$ for one, to make a coat out of them, to lay them on the floor as "carpets" or to hang them on the wall, I think it needs a lot more efforts to protect them for real!!! 💖💖💖
Emily Softley 8 years ago
I agree with you totally on the need to protect this gorgeous species, but I believe the 'endangered' category is down to the number remaining in the world, rather than those actually in danger from hunting, poaching etc.
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Leiah 8 years ago
No it's not lovely news. This just means less protection for the species! Probably lobbied by some people higher up who indirectly profit from the fur trade!!!
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Eulalie Grace 8 years ago
This "upgrading" of snow leopards from endangered to threatened has me very uneasy. In the past few years, too many species have been upgraded, like the Florida panther, manatees, and the Giant Panda. If these animals were making a comeback - KEEP THEM LISTED. Don't un-do all the hard work of recovery. These pictures were all taken in zoos as finding a snow leopard in the wild is quite a rare thing. Upgrading any animal is a mistake. I wonder who's behind their re-listing.
AnnieLaurie Burke 8 years ago
Readers should know that not all conservation organizations find the science sufficiently robust to support re-listing.
Sherrie Glendening 8 years ago
Why do humans want to destroy beautiful animals for their fur? A fur coat will never be as beautiful as when it's on the animal that is born with it.
ugaas wiilhoog 8 years ago
Let's hope the men and women keeping these magnificent creatures away from harm continue their good work up they still have some way to go.
Ed Mo 8 years ago
I don't understand why they're being removed from the endangered species list if their population is still in decline. A slower rate of decline is encouraging but this only stalls the inevitable unless greater conservation is enacted.
Marion Friedl 8 years ago
Yep they´re still poached for their fur, plz read my comment above!!! :(
Load More Replies... Marion Friedl 8 years ago
So pawsome, but snow leopard # 3 must be in some zoo, there´s a fence in front of him, the others´re in their natural habitat, but in my opinion they´ve been removed from the endangered animals list too soon, poachers still kill them for their fur, in China some people pay thousands of $$ for one, to make a coat out of them, to lay them on the floor as "carpets" or to hang them on the wall, I think it needs a lot more efforts to protect them for real!!! 💖💖💖
Emily Softley 8 years ago
I agree with you totally on the need to protect this gorgeous species, but I believe the 'endangered' category is down to the number remaining in the world, rather than those actually in danger from hunting, poaching etc.
Load More Replies... Leiah 8 years ago
No it's not lovely news. This just means less protection for the species! Probably lobbied by some people higher up who indirectly profit from the fur trade!!!
Load More Replies... Eulalie Grace 8 years ago
This "upgrading" of snow leopards from endangered to threatened has me very uneasy. In the past few years, too many species have been upgraded, like the Florida panther, manatees, and the Giant Panda. If these animals were making a comeback - KEEP THEM LISTED. Don't un-do all the hard work of recovery. These pictures were all taken in zoos as finding a snow leopard in the wild is quite a rare thing. Upgrading any animal is a mistake. I wonder who's behind their re-listing.
AnnieLaurie Burke 8 years ago
Readers should know that not all conservation organizations find the science sufficiently robust to support re-listing.
Sherrie Glendening 8 years ago
Why do humans want to destroy beautiful animals for their fur? A fur coat will never be as beautiful as when it's on the animal that is born with it.
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