- Snow Leopard School Treks and the International Snow Leopard Trust
'The International Snow Leopard Trust' is dedicated to the conservation of the endangered snow leopard and its mountain ecosystem through a balanced approach that considers the needs of the local people and the environment. Founded in 1981, the Snow Leopard Trust is the largest and oldest organisation working solely to protect the endangered snow leopard and its Central Asian habitat. With as few as 3,500 snow leopards left in the wild, the risk of losing these magnificent cats forever is very real.
The Trust's approach to conservation is rooted in the conviction that long-term success depends on the support of local people where the cats live. We work directly in snow leopard range countries, developing conservation programs in partnership with the people who share the snow leopard's remote mountain environment.
Snow Leopard School Treks supports the work of the Trust, and we sponsor a snow leopard. We will sponsor another snow leopard for every trek of 20 or more travellers booking with us.
For more information contact the trust on www.snowleopard.org or email info@snowleopard.org
- Snow Leopard and Porter Protection
When we trek in the Himalayas we at Snow Leopard are absolutely dependent upon our porters. We travel as a team, off the beaten track, and into the wilderness, and it is entirely thanks to our porters that we do so with relative ease and comfort. The welfare of our porters is a very high priority for us, and we make sure that our portering loads are fair, our wages above average and that our porters are suitably equipped for their journey, with adequate shelter from the elements.
Not all companies and trekkers do this. In the effort to cut costs, and because of the excess of porters to portering jobs, many porters still carry excessive loads for a poor wage, and travel up to the high passes ill equipped to face the weather and the exposed nights.
IPPG was founded by Dr Jim Duff in response to the death of a young Nepali porter on the Annapurna circuit. Unable to carry his load and suffering from the effects of altitude he was dismissed from his expedition and abandoned without adequate clothing or support. He died just one hour away form the Himalayan rescue post at Menang.
- IPPG Guidelines for trekking, observed by Snow Leopard School Treks
The higher and the more remote your trek, the better equipment and shelter you will have to provide. IPPG (International Porter Protection Group) recommends the following guidelines:
That adequate clothing be available for protection in bad weather and at altitude. This should include adequate footwear, hat gloves, windproof jacket and trousers, sunglasses, and access to a blanket and pad above the snowline.
That leaders and trekkers provide the same standard of medical care for porters, as they would expect for themselves.
That porters not be paid off because of illness without the leader or trekkers being informed.
That sick porters never be sent down alone, but with someone who speaks their language and understands the problem.
That sufficient funds be provided to sick porters to cover the cost of their land rescue and treatment. And if you are going to a remote area, select strong and experienced porters!
Nepali law states that all trekking porters should have provision for security, personal protective equipment including shoes, clothes, etc. depending on the weather, and that the management (whoever employs them) is responsible for rescue when required.
- How can you help?
First and foremost, trek only with companies who protect their porters, and if you trek alone be aware of porter's rights and observe them fully!
You may also like to make a donation to IPPG to help with creating awareness of the issue or donate some outdoor/trekking gear in reasonable condition to the IPPG clothes bank.
View the IPPG website www.ippg.net