Why in the news?
Recently, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the report on Status of Snow leopards in India.
More on the news
- 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.
Key findings of report
- 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)
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About Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia)
- 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.
Initiatives to conserve Snow Leopard
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Recommendations from report to conserve Snow Leopard
- 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.
