Why is the iberian lynx worth saving?

Beyond the fact that every species has a value in and of itself and should be protected, snow leopards also have an important role in their mountain ecosystem in Central Asia. They are at the very top of the food chain, so protecting them really means protecting the entire ecosystem they live in. Snow leopards need prey, prey needs intact grasslands and water sources etc. - so in order for the cats to live, nature on the whole must be intact.

The ecosystem where snow leopards live is also home to the sources of all of Asia's major rivers. These rivers are a lifeline for half the world's population, providing billions of people with fresh water. Protecting the snow leopard ultimately means protecting this irreplaceable resource.