Four snow leopards spotted together in Pakistan

Footage of four snow leopards spotted together in northern Pakistan has excited conservationists. These elusive animals are hard to find in the wild. Their sighting is celebrated as a success for conservation efforts in the country. The video was taken by Sakhawat Ali, a gamekeeper from the village of Hushe. He captured the moment on March 13 after tracking the leopards' pawprints for two weeks in Central Karakoram National Park, near the K2 mountain. Ali reported that the four leopards included a mother and her three cubs. He had never heard of anyone seeing four at the same time. Ali first spotted the mother and then kept noticing more pawprints. He finally saw the leopards together through binoculars from his rooftop. He estimated he was about 200 meters away when he filmed them. The locals are celebrating the sighting but are worried about the safety of their livestock. Snow leopards are classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are known as the "ghost of the mountains" due to their ability to blend into their rocky habitat. Experts believe the region of Gilgit Baltistan is one of the best habitats for snow leopards, but sightings remain rare across their range in 12 countries. Dr. Zakir Hussain, an official for Parks and Wildlife in Gilgit-Baltistan, called the sighting a "win" for local conservation awareness. About 80% of community members are now involved in activities to protect snow leopards. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Pakistan, expressed optimism but warned of continuing threats to the species. The United Nations Environment Program notes that human activities and livestock growth are harming snow leopard habitats. Other threats include poaching and climate change, which is expected to worsen these issues. Pakistan faces significant challenges due to its vulnerability to climate change.