“Unveiling the Hidden Majesty: A Comprehensive Study Sheds Light on India’s Snow Leopard Population”
The Union environment ministry unveiled a significant revelation on Tuesday, announcing that India is home to an estimated 718 snow leopards. This revelation comes following an extensive population assessment exercise aimed at tracking these elusive creatures, known for inhabiting remote and rugged landscapes.
The Snow Leopard Population Assessment exercise, a collaborative effort involving scientists from esteemed institutions such as the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun and the Nature Conservation Foundation in Mysore, provided valuable insights into the distribution and abundance of snow leopards across the northern trans-Himalayan region.
According to the findings, Ladakh emerged as the region with the highest count of snow leopards, with a staggering 477 individuals. Uttarakhand followed with 124, while Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Jammu and Kashmir accounted for 51, 36, 21, and 9 snow leopards, respectively.
The assessment, covering over 70 percent of the potential snow leopard range, utilized a combination of camera traps placed at 1,971 locations and ground-collected data, with wildlife staff and volunteers traversing over 13,000 kilometers to record signs of snow leopards.
While the natural habitat of snow leopards poses challenges for study and conservation efforts, the report marks a significant step forward in understanding and protecting these majestic animals. Notably, the establishment of a dedicated snow leopard cell at the Wildlife Institute, as proposed by the assessment report, aims to bolster long-term population monitoring and research initiatives.
Snow leopards, adapted to high-altitude environments across various countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and Russia, rely on prey species such as bharal, ibex, and marmots for sustenance. However, scientists caution that a delicate balance exists between snow leopard populations and their prey, emphasizing the need for ongoing conservation measures to preserve these iconic creatures and their habitats.
The revelation of India’s snow leopard population serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts of scientists, conservationists, and government agencies in safeguarding the biodiversity of the region and underscores the importance of continued research and conservation initiatives to ensure the long-term survival of these endangered species.