Snow Leopards Discovered in Afghanistan
Posted by: Loren Coleman on July 14th, 2011
In a new paper, Anthony Simms, Zalmai Moheb, Salahudin, Hussain Ali, Inayat Ali, Timothy Wood, in “Saving threatened species in Afghanistan: snow leopards in the Wakhan Corridor,” International Journal of Environmental Studies, 2011; 68 (3): 299, the authors document the discovery of “a surprisingly healthy population” of rare snow leopards living in the mountainous reaches of northeastern Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor.
“This is a wonderful discovery — it shows that there is real hope for snow leopards in Afghanistan,” said Peter Zahler, WCS Deputy Director for Asia Programs. “Now our goal is to ensure that these magnificent animals have a secure future as a key part of Afghanistan’s natural heritage.”
This is a snow leopard captured by remote camera in Afghanistan. A team of researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society have discovered a population of these elusive big cats. (Credit: Wildlife Conservation Society; more.)
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
How exciting! Beautiful animal!
This is AWESOME… so great to see!
These animals are rare and threatened. It is surprising news that there is a HEALTHY (breeding) population in the area of the Wahkan Corridor. Especially when you consider how torn apart that country has been for the past 30+ years. And the poaching of such a rare animal would be extremely profitable.
Here’s to hoping they can preserve and protect the ones that are left.