The Great Assets
  • Business
  • World News
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • Business
  • World News
  • Politics
  • Investing

The Great Assets

World News

Rare sighting of four snow leopards together sparks frenzy of excitement

by admin March 18, 2025
March 18, 2025
Rare sighting of four snow leopards together sparks frenzy of excitement

Footage of four, rarely-seen snow leopards clambering up snowy cliffs in northern Pakistan has created a frenzy of excitement among conservationists.

Snow leopards are among the world’s most elusive creatures in the wild and it is hard to catch even one on camera, let alone four, with the sighting being celebrated as a success story for Pakistan’s conservation efforts.

Sakhawat Ali, a gamekeeper and photography enthusiast from the remote village of Hushe, captured the footage on March 13 after what he described as “two weeks of tracking their pawprints” through the snow-covered Central Karakoram National Park – close to K2, the world’s second highest mountain.

“In the village we are used to seeing snow leopards but, nobody, not even the elders that I spoke to, have ever seen four snow leopards in one go,” he said.

He spotted the mother first, then started noting additional pawprints. He later “got lucky” sighting the animals together while observing a nearby cliff, through binoculars, from the rooftop of his house. He them scampered out with his camera to film them, from a distance of 200 meters.

Ali said neighbors from his village are celebrating the sighting – even though they have some concerns that their livestock could be in danger.

Snow leopards are currently listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Known locally as the “ghost of the mountains,” they camouflage easily in their natural habitat of the Karakoram Mountain range in Pakistan’s Gilgit Baltistan region.

Environmental anthropologist Shafqat Hussain says the rocky terrain in the north of Pakistan is perhaps the “best snow leopard habitat in the world.”

They only inhabit high alpine areas of the Himalayas and while their habitat spreads over 12 nations, including China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Russia, and Mongolia, sightings are exceedingly rare.

The World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Pakistan, said it was optimistic about the sighting but stressed snow leopards remain an endangered species still facing “numerous threats.”

In a statement, it said it’s crucial that local communities “work together to protect and conserve these incredible big cats, ensuring future generations can witness their splendor in the wild.”

According to the United Nation’s Environment Program “human activities and growing livestock herds in some areas have led to the degradation of pastureland and wildlife habitats,” affecting the snow leopards food supplies.

Other threats according to the UNEP include poaching and the fragmentation of the animal’s habitat due to massive new infrastructure projects in addition to climate change – which is “expected to aggravate these existing threats.”

In 2023, Pakistan was ranked as the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change according to the World Bank’s Global Climate Risk Index.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

previous post
Americans want smaller government but new polls shows whether they like how Musk, DOGE, are going about it
next post
What we know about the El Salvador ‘mega prison’ where Trump is sending alleged Venezuelan gang members

Related Posts

What we do and don’t know about Trump’s...

February 27, 2025

How a CIA informant stopped Taiwan from developing...

March 2, 2025

South Korean fighter jets accidentally bomb homes, injuring...

March 6, 2025

Mark Carney and the backlash against backlash politics

March 16, 2025

Cargo ship captain arrested in North Sea collision...

March 12, 2025

Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro hospitalized with abdominal pain

April 12, 2025

Israel boycotts hearing at UN’s top court on...

April 29, 2025

Blackwater founder Erik Prince joins security operation in...

April 6, 2025

UK launches strikes against Houthis in Yemen, in...

April 30, 2025

Argentine president defends his cryptocurrency tweet after crash,...

February 19, 2025

    Join our mailing list to get access to special deals, promotions, and insider information. Your exclusive benefits await! Enjoy personalized recommendations, first dibs on sales, and members-only content that makes you feel like a true VIP. Sign up now and start saving!


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Editors’ Picks

    • 1

      Top 11 Countries by Rare Earth Metal Production

      February 27, 2025
    • 2

      Capital One outage drags into Friday afternoon, leaving some customers without deposit access

      January 23, 2025
    • 3

      Altech Batteries LtdCERENERGY Accredited Highest Possible Green Rating

      January 24, 2025
    • 4

      Altech – CERENERGY Accredited Highest Possible Green Rating

      January 24, 2025
    • 5

      Bank of America CEO says financial industry will jump into crypto payments if regulators allow it

      January 23, 2025
    • 6

      Netflix shares soar as company reports surging revenue, tops 300 million subscribers

      January 23, 2025
    • 7

      Strategic Alliance with Macmahon to Accelerate Redevelopment of Nifty

      January 23, 2025
    • About us
    • Contacts
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Email Whitelisting

    Disclaimer: thegreatassets.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.


    Copyright © 2025 thegreatassets.com | All Rights Reserved