The snow leopard is a top predator and a global flagship species that has an extremely large habitat range inhabiting mountain ranges (with elevations ranging from 540m asl to 5000m asl spanning around 1.8 million km2) in as many as 12 countries: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Kingdom of Bhutan, PeopleÔÇÖs Republic of China, Republic of India, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan, and Republic of Uzbekistan.. Highly elusive, exact numbers are difficult to determine but are estimated to range from 3,500 to 7,000 numbers in the wild. The snow leopard is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List; and is listed in Appendix I of CITES and Appendix II on the Convention on Migratory Species (the CMS or Bonn Convention). As the top predator in the high mountains in these countries, the snow leopard plays an important ecological role in controlling the populations and health of the wild ungulate species it preys on. While the Asiatic brown bears that overlap the snow leopardÔÇÖs range subsist largely on pikas, marmots, scavenged meat and plant matter, the snow leopard subsists almost entirely on large animals caught live, frequently sick or injured animals. Protecting the snow leopard, its prey species, and its habitat is critical to protecting broader eco-regions as well, such as the high altitude grasslands and wetlands in these range countries. As such it is an important indicator species of highly healthy mountain ecosystems. In addition, the Snow Leopard is an important cultural symbol. In all the range countries, the lifestyle, religious beliefs and traditional practices (traditional agriculture, marriage, governance) are inter-connected with the presence of snow leopard.