STATUS OF SNOW LEOPARDS IN INDIA

Posted 15 Mar 2024

3 min read

Why in the news?

Recently, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the report on Status of Snow leopards in India.

Report is result of Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) programme which was carried out between 2019 and 2023.
- It is the first-ever scientific exercise estimating snow leopard population.
- Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is the National Coordinator for this exercise that was carried out with support of all snow leopard range states and two conservation partners, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru and World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-India.

70% of land used by snow leopards is still unprotected.
Challenges in counting Snow Leopard
- Majority of their habitat (which is between altitudes of 10,500 to 17,000 feet) remains inaccessible.
- Unlike tigers, zebras or even leopards, snow leopards evade detection by artificial intelligence software.

Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI)

SPAI was launched by MoEFCC in 2019 as part of Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program(GSLEP) called Population Assessment of World's Snow Leopards (PAWS).
- Endorsed in 2013 Bishkek Declaration, GSLEP is an alliance of all 12 snow leopard range countries and non-governmental partners.
SPAI covered over 70% of potential snow leopard range in country across trans-Himalayan region, including Union Territories of Ladakh and J&K, and states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

It is declared State animal of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
Characteristics
- Considered medium-sized cats and weighing around 30-55kg.
- Their exquisite, smoky-grey fur is patterned with dark grey to black rosettes which helps to camouflage them against rocky slopes.
Habitat Distribution: 12 snow leopard range countries (Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan).
Khelo India Winter Games 2024 has adopted snow leopard as its mascot and named it ‘Sheen-e She’ or Shan in Ladakh region.

Three landscapes under GSLEP: For restoration of snow leopard species in high-altitude region, India has identified three landscapes namely, Hemis-Spiti across Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, Nanda Devi-Gangotri in Uttarakhand,and Khangchendzonga Tawang across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Project Snow Leopard: It aims to safeguard and conserve India’s unique natural heritage of high altitude wildlife populations and their habitats by promoting conservation through participatory policies and actions.
International Snow Leopard Day: Established in 2014, it is celebrated on October 23 every year to raise awareness for its conservation and protection.
Snow Leopard Breeding Project at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling is one of the most successful and breeding programme of species in South East Asia.

Snow Leopard Cell: Proposed establishing dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at WII under MoEFCC with a primary focus on long-term population monitoring.
Periodic population estimation: States and UTs can consider adopting a periodic population estimation approach (every 4th year) in Snow leopard range to identify challenges, address threats, and formulate effective conservation strategies.
Landscape-level management planning and coordination for effective implementation and management.
Engage Indian security forces on border of neighbouring countries (Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and China) through proper training, focussed programs to raise awareness and foster long-term cooperation for conservation of critical snow leopard habitats.