Janargul and her husband are the leaders of a community of fifteen nomadic herding families in a remote corner of northwestern Mongolia. They live near the Jargalant Nature Reserve, in a mountainous area where snow leopards also live. These families live a difficult economic existence—their livestock are their only source of income, and they lose some animals every year to the harsh mountain climate. Last year, Janargul and other women in her community began participating in Snow Leopard Enterprises (SLE), and they say it has changed their lives. Selling beautiful felted rugs and mats (handmade from the wool of their herds) to the Snow Leopard Trust provides a cash income that enables them to buy food and clothing for their families. The women have also started a fund to help other members of their community send children to school and obtain medical attention when needed.

Janargul and her husband are enthusiastic about the conservation component of SLE. In the future, they hope to educate tourists visiting the area about snow leopards and other resources in the ecosystem, and offer them a warm place to stay and handicrafts to purchase as souvenirs.

Hundreds of families in Mongolia, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Pakistan have been able to better their lives by participating in SLE. Your purchase of a SLE handicraft is a gift many times over—not just a beautiful token to give to a loved one or yourself, but also something that helps families, saves snow leopards, and enables us to expand this successful community-based conservation program into new areas.

Ornaments portraying snow leopards and other animals that live in the mountains of Central Asia; beautiful felted rugs in traditional geometric designs; camel-wool yarn in luxurious shades of blue, green, and orange—these are just a few of the handmade Snow Leopard Enterprises products that can be found in our online store