When we think of the world’s most majestic carnivores we are confronted with two dominant reactions: fear and reverence. We often view carnivores as dangerous creatures that have a unique standing in the wild, they are at the top of the food chain but the truth is that carnivore populations are increasingly vulnerable and at risk of endangerment.   In fact, more than 75% of the 31 largest carnivore species are declining, and 17 species now occupy less than half their former ranges. Southeast Asia, southern and East Africa, and the Amazon are among areas in which multiple large carnivore species are declining.   In ecosystems around the world, the decline of large predators such as lions, leopards, bears, wolves are changing landscapes. Habitat loss, persecution by humans and loss of prey have combined to inflict great losses on these populations.   Losing carnivores sets in a chain reaction of losing other flora and fauna in the ecosystem as well. Carnivores serve as good indicators of an ecosystem’s overall health: Where predators thrive, prey must also be abundant, where herbivore prey is, lush green trees and plants grow as well. Thus, protecting areas large enough to support populations of animals like bears, lions, leopards and wolves can result in the conservation of a wide range of species, both animals and plants, as well as the integrity of the complex ecosystems in which they live.   When human activity eliminates or decreases top predator numbers, their former prey tends to overpopulate their habitats, causing the dramatic decline of those ecosystems. Carnivores are in fact regulators of rich complex ecosystems around the world. Human-Carnivore conflict is still not fully understood which has led to the needless and baseless declining numbers of carnivores such as the stealthy snow leopard. The Snow Leopard Foundation is a leader in understanding the human-carnivore conflict and protecting carnivore populations to allow fragile ecosystems to thrive and flourish!