Snow Leopard Habitat and Distribution
In Afghanistan, snow leopards inhabit the rugged terrains of the Hindu Kush mountain range, which stretches across ten northeastern provinces of the country. The presence of snow leopards has been confirmed in several key locations, including:
- Wakhan National Park
- Buffer zone districts of Ishkashim and Zebak
- Darwaz-e-Payin district in Badakhshan Province
- Eastern districts of Bargi Matal and Kamdesh in Nuristan Province
Landscape Area and Geographic Boundaries
The total snow leopard landscape in Afghanistan spans approximately 52,047.12 km². One of the most prominent conservation areas within this landscape is Wakhan National Park, recognized for its exceptional ecological, cultural, and scenic value. The park lies at the intersection of the Hindu Kush, Pamir, and Karakoram mountain ranges, forming part of the Panj-Amu River Basin’s headwaters.
Wakhan shares international borders with:
- Tajikistan to the north
- China to the east
- Pakistan to the south
Domestically, the snow leopard habitat extends westward to Baghlan Province and southward to Nangarhar Province.
According to the WWF Global Terrestrial Ecoregion classification, this landscape overlaps with seven distinct global ecoregions:
- Pamir alpine desert and tundra
- Karakoram–West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe
- Paropamisus xeric woodland
- Afghan Mountains semi-desert
- Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows
- Hindu Kush alpine meadow
- Ghorat–Hazarajat alpine meadow
Rationale for Selection and Snow Leopard Population
As per GSLEP criteria, Wakhan National Park is a critical stronghold for snow leopards in Afghanistan. It is estimated that approximately 75% of the confirmed national range of the species falls within this protected area. The current population estimate for snow leopards in Wakhan is between 110 and 136 individuals. The area also supports healthy populations of wild prey, which helps sustain the predator population.
Connectivity with Other Regions
This landscape forms part of a wider transboundary snow leopard corridor that connects with:
- Xinjiang Uygur Region in China
- Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan
- Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in Tajikistan
Within Afghanistan, while the potential snow leopard range spans across 10 provinces — namely Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kapisa, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Panjshir, Parwan, and Takhar — confirmed sightings to date have only been documented in Badakhshan and Nuristan.
Protected Areas within the Landscape
A number of protected areas have been established to conserve snow leopard habitat:
- On 30 March 2014, the entire Wakhan District (covering 10,950.66 km²) was declared a national park.
- Within Wakhan National Park, two zones were designated as Strict Protection Areas:
- Big Pamir Wildlife Reserve – 577 km²
- Teggermansu Wildlife Reserve – 169.5 km²
Additionally, in June 2020, the National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) officially declared Nuristan National Park in the eastern districts of Bargi Matal and Kamdesh, where snow leopard presence had been confirmed.
There are also favorable habitats in Panjshir Province, which have been identified as candidates for future protected status.
Designated National Focal Points:
Mr. Abdul Wali Atif
Head of Foreign Relations, National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA)
abdulwaliw478@gmail.com