TV BRICS, citing data from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said the snow leopard’s range had expanded to approximately 2.08 million square kilometres.

China is currently home to more than 60 per cent of the global snow leopard range.

It also has the largest snow leopard distribution area and population in the world.

The snow leopard, often hailed as the “King of the Mountains”, is a Class I specially protected animal in China.

Its presence is regarded as a key indicator of the integrity, stability, and health of mountain ecosystems.

Two national parks and 78 other key protected areas have been established in critical habitats, with over 800,000 square kilometres of the habitat under strict protection.

This means nearly 40 per cent of the species’ potential habitat is now under regulatory control.

Significant progress has been made in restoring populations in areas where snow leopards had previously disappeared.

In the Helan Mountains region, China launched its first snow leopard reintroduction pilot project, which includes individual selection, health assessments, genetic testing, acclimatisation training, reintroduction and long-term monitoring.

To date, eight snow leopards have been reintroduced into the Helan Mountains.

Together with individuals that have arrived naturally, some of these snow leopards have established stable habitats and begun to hunt independently.

In 2026, the project successfully achieved a complete cycle of ‘reintroduction and establishment – natural mating – litter production in the wild – successful rearing of cubs’.

It marked the first such instance globally.

Shi Kun, chief snow leopard expert at the Centre for Felid Research, pointed out that clarifying the snow leopard’s range remains a top priority.

According to Shi, it requires the identification of key habitats and migration corridors.

On 23 Oct. 2013, at the first Global Snow Leopard Forum held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the “Bishkek Declaration on the Conservation of the Snow Leopard” was adopted.

The Declaration was signed by representatives from 12 countries within the snow leopard’s range, including the BRICS nations.

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim