718 majestic cats found, One-sixth of global count

In a landmark development, the Union Ministry released the inaugural report on India's Snow Leopard population on January 30, 2024, revealing a total count of 718. This figure represents approximately one-sixth of the global Snow Leopard population.

The report, titled "The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Program," was presented by Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, during the National Board for Wildlife meeting held in New Delhi.

Devised by the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) as the National Coordinator, in collaboration with snow leopard range states and two conservation partners, the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru, and WWF-India, the SPAI program employed an extensive network of camera traps to conduct the first comprehensive assessment of snow leopard numbers in the country.

The estimated population breakdown across different states is as follows: Ladakh (477), Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9).

During the SPAI exercise, which spanned from 2019 to 2023, a meticulous two-step framework was employed. Initially, the spatial distribution of Snow Leopards was evaluated using an occupancy-based sampling approach, aligning with the guidelines of the National population assessment of Snow Leopards in India by the MoEFCC in 2019. Subsequently, Snow Leopard abundance was estimated using camera traps in identified stratified regions.

The exercise covered approximately 120,000 sq.km of crucial snow leopard habitat across the trans-Himalayan region, providing valuable insights into regions like Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

An official from the Wildlife Institute of India emphasized the significance of this assessment, noting that until recent years, a considerable portion of the snow leopard range in India lacked comprehensive research. Recent status surveys have increased understanding, with preliminary information now available for 80% of the range, compared to 56% in 2016.

Experts stress the importance of consistent monitoring for the long-term survival of Snow Leopards. They suggest adopting a periodic population estimation approach every four years to identify challenges, address threats, and formulate effective conservation strategies.

The global Snow Leopard population, estimated by the Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program, stands between 4000-6500. The detailed report provides a state-wise breakdown of snow leopard populations, with Ladakh boasting the highest number at 477, followed by Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9).