CONFLICT AND COEXISTENCE: A REVIEW OF HUMAN–SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVATION DYNAMICS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an ecologically and evolutionarily important apex predator, crucial for maintaining the balance of Pakistan’s high-mountain ecosystems. Despite this, its long-term survival faces mounting threats from habitat fragmentation, declining prey populations, and ongoing human–wildlife conflict. This review critically evaluates four principal conservation strategies implemented in Pakistan: community-based conservation programs, predator-proof livestock enclosures, compensation and insurance schemes, and habitat restoration initiatives. Recent research highlights both the successes and limitations of these approaches, offering a nuanced assessment of their effectiveness. Livestock depredation continues to be the main source of human–snow leopard conflict, frequently leading to retaliatory killings that erode local support for conservation. Effectively addressing these challenges requires adaptive management, participatory governance, and stronger cross-sector collaboration to harmonize conservation objectives with local livelihoods. The review also identifies three key knowledge gaps: (1) the need for standardized conflict data, (2) consistent and improved monitoring of snow leopard populations, and (3) enhanced transboundary conservation planning. Addressing these gaps is critical for informing policy and developing coexistence strategies that safeguard both the snow leopard and the socioeconomic well-being of the mountain communities that share its habitat.