India is home to 718 endangered snow leopards, as revealed by a first-of-its-kind scientific survey spanning five years between 2019 and 2023 across the Himalayan range. The high-altitude region of Ladakh emerged as the prime sanctuary for the elusive majestic cats, boasting the highest number at 477 individuals.
State-wise population estimates further indicate 124 snow leopards in Uttarakhand, 51 in Himachal Pradesh, 36 in Arunachal Pradesh, 21 in Sikkim, and 9 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The much-anticipated Status Report of Snow Leopards in India was released on Tuesday.
The report, stemming from the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Programme spanning between 2019 and 2023, was released by Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav at the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) meeting here.
Known as the 'Ghost of Mountains' for their elusive and mysterious nature, snow leopards have long been a symbol of the pristine and harsh landscapes they inhabit.
The findings of this first-of-its-kind survey not only shed light on their endangered status but also emphasise the importance of preserving their delicate habitats, being an indicator of the health of the Himalayan ecosystems in terms of climate change and biodiversity.
The comprehensive assessment of the survey spanning approximately 1,20,000 square kilometers across the trans-Himalayan region was led by The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), with the collaboration of all snow leopard range states, the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru, and WWF-India.
Prior to this study, the snow leopard's range in India was largely undefined, with significant portions of their habitat unexamined. However, recent surveys have expanded our knowledge, now covering preliminary information for 80 per cent of their range.
Neeraj Mahar, a wildlife expert and Project Scientist working in the higher terrains in the Himalayan region, said, "This is the first Pan India effort to estimate the snow leopard population using robust methods. Ladakh holds most of the population of these majestic cats in India and needs special attention to secure its habitat. Now it's time to formalise and carry out this exercise similar to All India Tiger Estimation."
Under the SPAI, the rigorous fieldwork involved surveying 13,450 kilometers of trails for signs of snow leopards and deploying camera traps at 1,971 locations for a total of 180,000 trap nights. This effort led to the recording of snow leopard occupancy over an area of 93,392 square kilometers and their estimated presence in 100,841 square kilometers.
The report also underscores the proposal to establish a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at WII under the MoEFCC, emphasising the need for long-term population monitoring through structured study designs and consistent fieldwork.
It suggests that States and UTs adopt a periodic population estimation every fourth year to ensure the survival of snow leopards and to aid in crafting effective conservation strategies.
The snow leopard's presence in the cold, barren landscape of the high-altitude region symbolises ecosystem services such as fresh water and carbon sequestration, but human threats including habitat loss and poaching are leaving these majestic creatures at the receiving end, according to wildlife experts.
Despite a range of over 2 million square km, according to the Snow Leopard Trust, scientists estimate that there may only be between 3,920 and 6,390 snow leopards left in the wild with their habitat in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
