Attacks by snow leopards have increased in Tajikistan

On March 15, 2024, in the rural jamoat of Roshtqala in the Roshtkalin district of GBAO, a snow leopard attacked the livestock of a resident of the village of Andzhin.

“The predator tore apart 5 heads of small livestock and fled into the mountains,” reported the Committee for Emergency Situations (CES). Earlier, on February 22, there was a previous attack by the predator in the same area, when a snow leopard attacked domestic livestock in the barn of a resident of the village of Tabarsem in the Sijd jamoat in the Roshtkalin district. As a result, 18 animals were killed. It is unclear how one predator can tear apart so many animals at once.

The snow leopard, or irbis, is listed in the Red Book of Tajikistan as a wild animal that is endangered. According to scientists, there may be only 10,000 adult snow leopards left in the world. Most of these animals have become extinct due to hunting, habitat destruction, and range contraction.

Typically, irbises hunt ungulates in the wild, but apparently, due to a lack of sufficient food in nature, they descend to human settlements in search of prey, making domestic livestock their target. One of the most effective ways to stop attacks is to better protect domestic livestock. It may be necessary for the government of RT to take measures to assist local residents in strengthening their homes and consider how to improve conditions for the existence of snow leopards.

The Committee for Emergency Situations recommends disposing of dead animals by burning them to prevent the predator from returning to the scene. It is unclear how effective this measure may be.