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- Title
Range contraction of snow leopard (Panthera uncia).
- Authors
Mahmood, Tariq; Younas, Ayesha; Akrim, Faraz; Andleeb, Shaista; Hamid, Abdul; Nadeem, Muhammad Sajid
- Abstract
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) is native to mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, where it occurs from 3,000–4500 m elevation. The species is enlisted as “Endangered” by IUCN and its populations are reportedly declining. In the current study, we compared the past and current distribution ranges of the species using spatial analysis. We used Quantum Geographical Information System (QGIS) software to reconstruct and quantify its past distribution range and compare with its current one. Snow leopard was found more widely distributed in the past having a distribution range of approximately 10.47 million km2 against the current 3.20 million km2. Range contraction of the species approximates 69%. A total of 719 terrestrial protected areas of Asia (out of total 7209) had this species in the past whereas at current, only 311 protected areas support this species. The results emphasize escalating conservation efforts to save its remaining distribution range.
- Subjects
ASIA; SNOW leopard; GEOGRAPHIC information systems; PROTECTED areas; GEOGRAPHIC spatial analysis; CURRENT distribution
- Publication
PLoS ONE, 2019, Vol 14, Issue 8, p1
- ISSN
1932-6203
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0218460