Known as the ghost of the mountains, there are only 4 thousand specimens of the feline left. The population has declined by 20% over the past 16 years. “International action" needed to protect the fragile ecosystem in which it lives. An appeal ahead of UN summit in Paris

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - More than a third of the natural habitat of the snow leopard could become hostile to the feline’s life because of climate change, thus further endangering a species whose population has declined by 20% in the past 16 years.

These are the findings of a recently published report by WWF experts, entitled "Fragile connections - Snow leopards, people, water and the global climate”. They are calling for "international action" to safeguard the fragile Himalayas mountain environment that, in addition, supplies water to hundreds of millions of people across the Asian continent.

In the study, WWF experts show that rising temperatures could raise the tree line to higher latitudes, thus enabling man to cultivate and raise cattle in areas higher than ever. All this forces the snow leopards, better known as the ghosts of the mountains, to take refuge in increasingly confined, restricted and fragmented rural areas.

Experts of the World Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have entered the snow leopard among species "at risk" and under threat, given that now there is a population of only 4 thousand specimens left. The felines join other species affected by climate change, such as polar bears, walruses, Adelie penguins, ptarmigan and Andean flamingos.

At least 330 million people live within 10 km from rivers that originate in the territory that forms the felines natural habitat and who depend directly on those rivers for water supply. According to the report, published on the eve of the UN climate summit in Paris, the growth in temperatures could alter dramatically the flow of water from mountain springs and threaten the lives of people across the continent.

To raise the awareness regarding snow leopards, the WWF has released unprecedented images, portraying the wild cat in its natural habitat in Nepal and Mongolia. Rebecca May, head of WWF's program to protect the snow leopards, said that "in order to avoid such potentially devastating effects" the organization strongly supports the achievement of a strong and effective agreement "at the December conference.

• asia
• snow
• leopard
• climate
• change
• paris
• conference