- The Snow Leopard is listed as a Class I protected animal in China, the highest level of protection.
-Hunting, killing, capturing, or trading of Snow Leopards or their products is strictly prohibited under Chinese law.
- Penalties for Snow Leopard poaching can range from fines of up to 500,000 RMB (approximately $73,000 USD) to life imprisonment.
India:
- The Snow Leopard is listed as an endangered species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
- Hunting, killing, capturing, or trading of Snow Leopards or their products is prohibited under Indian law.
- Penalties for Snow Leopard poaching can range from fines of up to 25,000 INR (approximately $350 USD) to imprisonment of up to three years.
Nepal:
- The Snow Leopard is protected under Nepal's National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1973.
- Hunting, killing, capturing, or trading of Snow Leopards or their products is prohibited under Nepalese law.
- Penalties for Snow Leopard poaching can range from fines of up to 100,000 NPR (approximately $875 USD) to imprisonment of up to 15 years.
Pakistan:
- The Snow Leopard is listed as an endangered species under the Pakistan Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1975.
- Hunting, killing, capturing, or trading of Snow Leopards or their products is prohibited under Pakistani law.
- Penalties for Snow Leopard poaching can range from fines of up to 200,000 PKR (approximately $1,200 USD) to imprisonment of up to seven years.
Other Asian countries:
- The Snow Leopard is also protected in other Asian countries, such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, and Tajikistan.
- Hunting, killing, capturing, or trading of Snow Leopards or their products is prohibited by law in these countries.
- Penalties for Snow Leopard poaching can vary from country to country, but can range from fines to imprisonment.
In addition to these legal penalties, killing a Snow Leopard can also result in negative social consequences, such as loss of reputation, social isolation, and even violence. Many communities in Asia view Snow Leopards as sacred animals and killing one can be seen as a serious crime against cultural and religious beliefs.
Overall, the punishments for killing Snow Leopards in Asia are severe and reflect the importance of protecting this endangered species.