International Day of the Snow Leopard Date in the current year: October 23, 2025

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), also called the ounce, inhabits alpine and subalpine zones in the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. As of 2016, the total wild population size was estimated to be between 4,000 and 8,000 individuals. However, this estimate is disputed because snow leopards live in hard-to-reach places and lead secretive lives. The snow leopard is listed as a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

The snow leopard population faces severe threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, prey depletion, climate change, illicit trafficking, poaching, and the illegal trade of its skins, teeth, claws, and other body parts. In Tibet and Mongolia, snow leopard skins are used in traditional garments, and their meat and bones are used in Tibetan, Chinese, and Mongolian medicine to treat kidney ailments, rheumatism, and bone injuries. Although hunting snow leopards is prohibited or severely restricted across most of their range, this has not stopped poaching or the illegal trade of their body parts.

Climate change adds further pressure; greenhouse gas emissions are expected to shift the treeline in the Himalayas upward, shrinking the alpine zone and reducing suitable snow leopard habitat by up to 30%. Conflict with humans also contributes to the snow leopard population’s decline, especially in areas where snow leopards prey on livestock.

The International Day of the Snow Leopard was initiated by the countries that encompass the snow leopard’s range. These include Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. On October 23, 2013, they signed the Bishkek Declaration on snow leopard conservation at the First Global Snow Leopard Forum that took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital.

The first International Day of the Snow Leopard was celebrated on October 23, 2014. Ten years later, the UN General Assembly officially added it to the list of United Nations international days. The day’s main goals are to raise awareness of the importance of snow leopard conservation, consolidate the conservation efforts of environmental organizations in snow leopard range countries, and emphasize the importance of preventing poaching.

In its resolution establishing the International Day of the Snow Leopard, the General Assembly emphasized the urgent necessity of addressing the unprecedented global loss of biodiversity. This includes preventing the extinction of threatened species like the snow leopard, enhancing and maintaining their conservation status, and restoring and protecting ecosystems that provide vital functions and services related to water, health, livelihoods, and overall well-being.