Founded in 1981 in Seattle, WA, the Trust is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the snow leopard and its mountain ecosystem through a balanced approach that addresses the needs of the local people and the environment.Snow leopards range over two million square km of mountain in Central Asia, including the formidable Himalayas. Experts currently estimate as few as 3,500 exist in the wild. As an "umbrella" or keystone species, snow leopard conservation helps protect hundreds of other plants and animals in the ecosystem. The Snow Leopard Trust is the oldest and largest organization focused solely on saving this important species. The Trust's work focuses on research, education, advocacy, and community-based conservation.