SLF Urges Focus on Wild Conservation as Captive Leopards Face Transfer
News Desk
Islamabad: The Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) has publicly supported the proposed international transfer of two captive snow leopards currently housed at the Snow Leopard Rehabilitation Centre in Naltar Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan.
The transfer, under consideration by the Government of Pakistan through the Gilgit-Baltistan Wildlife Department, aims to improve the welfare of these animals.
SLF clarified that the two snow leopards were taken from the wild illegally, first in 2012 and again in 2024, and are not the result of conservation rescues. Raised in captivity, the animals have lost the natural instincts necessary for survival in the wild due to irreversible behavioral changes.
“This is not a commercial export,” a senior SLF representative emphasized. “The decision is rooted in science, legality, and ethics, prioritizing animal welfare.”
Citing scientific evidence and extensive experience with large carnivores, SLF explained that captive-raised animals, particularly those taken under illegal circumstances, cannot be safely reintroduced to their natural habitats. Their physical and emotional needs require specialized care that international zoological institutions with expertise can better provide.
The transfer aligns with international standards for ex-situ wildlife management and complies with Pakistan’s national wildlife laws and international obligations under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
According to CITES Appendix I, non-commercial transfers for animal welfare and scientific collaboration are permitted under strict regulatory protocols.
The Naltar facility, established in 2013 with support from the U.S. Embassy and Sweden’s Nordens Ark, has contributed significantly to snow leopard rehabilitation. However, financial and logistical challenges have made the long-term care of apex predators like snow leopards increasingly unsustainable.
SLF stressed that wildlife decisions must prioritize the animals’ welfare. “Keeping wild animals in inadequate conditions for symbolic or emotional reasons is not ethical,” the statement said. “These two snow leopards no longer belong to the wild gene pool. Their continued captivity under substandard conditions is neither humane nor necessary. They deserve a future with care, dignity, and compassion.”
The Foundation also emphasized that the transfer should not be seen as a failure of Pakistan’s conservation efforts, but rather an evolution towards more ethical and responsible wildlife stewardship.
While the issue has attracted public attention, SLF reminded stakeholders that the true threats to Pakistan’s snow leopards remain illegal poaching, human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, and climate change, which require urgent collective action.
To better handle similar situations in the future, SLF recommended the creation of specialized wildlife response units staffed with trained veterinarians, adopting GSLEP guidelines for unusual snow leopard encounters, establishing cost-effective care centers in key biodiversity areas, and promoting international cooperation for best wildlife care practices.
The Snow Leopard Foundation concluded that the ethical treatment of these captive animals must not overshadow the critical need to protect wild snow leopards across Pakistan. If carried out within legal frameworks, the proposed transfer represents a humane and principled step forward for conservation and animal welfare.
