Fauna and flora that enjoy improved protection on the plateau

Snow leopard

The snow leopard is native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List and is under level-one national protection in China. It is threatened by poaching and habitat destruction. The snow leopard inhabits alpine and subalpine zones at heights of 3,000 to 4,500 meters.

Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change will probably cause the Himalayan tree line to move and result in the alpine zone shrinking, which may reduce the animal's habitat.

The snow leopard is usually solitary, and active mostly at dawn and sunset.

It is capable of killing most animals in its habitat, but it also eats a significant amount of vegetation, including grass and twigs.