International Day of the Snow Leopard2026 · Date · History · Messages
A/RES/79/143
About International Day of the Snow Leopard
International Day of the Snow Leopard is observed on 23 October. The UN General Assembly proclaimed the day through resolution A/RES/79/143 on 12 December 2024.
The observance promotes conservation of snow leopards and their high-mountain ecosystems, emphasizing international and regional cooperation across the species’ range.
Why International Day of the Snow Leopard matters
Snow leopard conservation is closely tied to the health and connectivity of mountain ecosystems. The UN resolution links the day with broader biodiversity, ecosystem-restoration and sustainable-mountain-development goals.
The day can support public awareness, scientific cooperation, community-based conservation and cross-border coordination, but it should not be used to disclose sensitive wildlife-location information that could increase poaching or disturbance risk.
History of International Day of the Snow Leopard
At the 2013 Global Forum on the Conservation of the Snow Leopard in Bishkek, snow-leopard range countries adopted the Bishkek Declaration; the resulting range-country initiative began celebrating International Snow Leopard Day on 23 October in 2014.
On 12 December 2024, Kyrgyzstan introduced draft A/79/L.40 on behalf of a core group of snow-leopard range countries, and the General Assembly adopted A/RES/79/143 without a vote.
The UN resolution retained 23 October and explicitly invited the United Nations Environment Programme to facilitate the annual observance. UNEP documented the UN-designated day on 23 October 2025.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
International Snow Leopard Day
Snow-leopard range countries began celebrating 23 October as International Snow Leopard Day after the 2013 Bishkek Declaration. The United Nations later proclaimed an International Day of the Snow Leopard on the same annual date in December 2024.
Kyrgyzstan, introducing the draft on behalf of a core group of snow-leopard range countries
The General Assembly meeting record states that Kyrgyzstan introduced A/79/L.40 on behalf of Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/79/143
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The establishing resolution explicitly invites UNEP to facilitate observance of the International Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
How to Observe International Day of the Snow Leopard
Learn which countries are part of the snow leopard’s range and compare the different habitat, livestock and conservation pressures across them.
Use public conservation reports to examine how protecting snow leopards can also protect connected mountain ecosystems and water sources.
Discuss community-based approaches to reducing livestock conflict without publishing exact locations of vulnerable animals or patrol routes.
Compare the 2013 Bishkek Declaration and the 2024 UN resolution to see how a range-country conservation initiative developed into a UN-recognized international day.
International Day of the Snow Leopard Facts
The UN observance falls on 23 October.
A/RES/79/143 was adopted on 12 December 2024.
Kyrgyzstan introduced the draft on behalf of a core group including Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The 23 October date commemorates the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration at the 2013 Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum.
The resolution explicitly invites UNEP to facilitate observance of the day.
International Day of the Snow Leopard Messages
May International Day of the Snow Leopard inspire curiosity about the living world and thoughtful action to protect it.
Celebrate International Day of the Snow Leopard by learning from credible conservation sources and choosing one practical way to reduce harm or support protection.
Wishing everyone marking International Day of the Snow Leopard a day of discovery, respect for nature and care that continues beyond today.
On International Day of the Snow Leopard, may appreciation for the natural world lead to informed stewardship and practical care for the places and species around us.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/79/L.40 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/79/143 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations General Assembly — A/79/PV.52, Kyrgyzstan introduction and date rationale (opens in a new tab)
Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program — 2014 International Snow Leopard Day (opens in a new tab)
UNEP — International Day of the Snow Leopard 2025 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day of the Snow Leopard (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of the Snow Leopard?
23 October The documented recurrence rule is: 23 October.
Does International Day of the Snow Leopard fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of the Snow Leopard an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of the Snow Leopard?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Kyrgyzstan, introducing the draft on behalf of a core group of snow-leopard range countries. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Is International Day of the Snow Leopard international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Why is International Day of the Snow Leopard on 23 October?
In the General Assembly meeting that introduced the draft, Kyrgyzstan stated that 23 October commemorates adoption of the Bishkek Declaration at the 2013 Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum.
Who facilitates the UN observance?
A/RES/79/143 explicitly invites the United Nations Environment Programme to facilitate the observance.
Was there a snow leopard day before the 2024 UN proclamation?
Yes. Snow-leopard range countries were already celebrating International Snow Leopard Day on 23 October from 2014, following the 2013 Bishkek Declaration. This guide records that as a precursor rather than pretending the UN observance existed before its proclamation.
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