According to the excerpt on snow leopards, why are snow leopards an endangered species?
What threats do snow leopards face?
Snow leopards are important in ecosystems. But their population size is decreasing. There are different estimates of the number of snow leopards left in their natural habitats. That’s because snow leopards are very hard to find and track in nature. Most scientists estimate that there are between 4,000 and 6,500 snow leopards left in the wild. Some snow leopards are in zoos. The zoos work to help conserve the species. Snow leopards are endangered.
There are several reasons why the number of snow leopards is decreasing. Historically, and occasionally still today, snow leopards were hunted for their thick, soft fur. Other times snow leopards are killed by ranchers when the leopards attack their livestock. Humans now use some of the snow leopard’s habitat for farming and mining. This can make the snow leopards or their prey move to different habitats. Conservation groups are working to protect snow leopards and their habitat.
i. Humans hunt snow leopards in sport for their fur.
ii. Humans displace snow leopards’ homes and food sources.
iii. Humans often kill snow leopards that are searching for food.
A.
i. only
B.
ii. only
C.
ii. and iii.
D.
i., ii., and iii.
Please select the best answer from the choices provided
A
B
C
D
C. ii. and iii.
The correct answer is C. ii. and iii.
Explanation: According to the excerpt, the threats that snow leopards face are humans displacing their homes and food sources (ii.) and humans often killing snow leopards that are searching for food (iii.). There is no mention of snow leopards being hunted for sport for their fur (i.) in the given information.