Observers say the level of wildlife security, especially in the higher reaches where snow leopards dwell, is poor
In the past couple of months, three snow leopards have been captured on camera traps in Uttarkashi and Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.Though this had raised enthusiasm in the Forest Department and wildlife lovers, observers also point out that the level of wildlife security, especially in the higher reaches where the snow leopards dwell, is quite poor and might not ensure a thriving population of this elusive big cat which also faces threat from poachers. In the past 10 years, three snow leopard pelts have been seized in the State, of which one was seized in Dehradun last year.
Two snow leopards were caught on camera traps in November-December last year in the Gangotri national park in Uttarkashi district, while one was caught in a camera trap in the Nanda Devi national park in Chamoli district earlier this month. These photographs have elicited enthusiastic response from forest officers and wildlife enthusiasts.
However, this has also elicited focus on the various unresolved issues pertaining to snow leopards in the State. Officials said that the department has no accurate data on the snow leopard population in the State as these rare big cats generally inhabit high altitude regions at 2,700 metres to 6,000 metres altitude where counting them is difficult.
However, officials also said that department staff has been deployed to ensure the safety of the snow leopard. According to Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) Uttarakhand in-charge Rajendra Agrawal, the Forest Department needs to take concrete steps to resolve the threat to snow leopards.
"The people who camp in high altitude areas to collect yarsa gumba (known as the Himalayan herbal Viagra) need to be registered and monitored. Those collecting yarsa gumba and those who take their cattle and sheep to pasture in high altitude areas need to be monitored effectively as poaching is continuing in the mountainous regions. We have suggested to the department in the past that patrolling and monitoring needs to be strengthened in order to tackle the risk of poaching in the mountainous regions," he said.
During the winters when herbivores migrate to lower altitudes, the snow leopard also follows its prey and becomes liable to be targeted more by poachers.