Snow Leopards in India

Snow Leopards in India mind map
  Recent News:
    Population Estimate:
      718 individuals in India
      Around 1/6th to 1/9th of global population
    Survey Details:
      Conducted from 2019 to 2023
      Covered 70% of species' habitats
      Spanned 120,000 square kilometers
      Mainly outside protected regions
    Methodology:
      Camera traps in 2,000 locations
      Recorded over 180,000 nights
      Captured 241 individual leopards
    Distribution in States:
      Ladakh: 477
      Uttarakhand: 124
      Himachal Pradesh: 51
      Arunachal Pradesh: 36
      Sikkim: 21
      Jammu and Kashmir: 9
  When:
    Survey period: 2019-2023
    Report released: January 2024
  Why:
    To estimate snow leopard population
    For species conservation
  What
    Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) program
    First-ever scientific exercise for population estimation
    Involvement of:
      Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
      Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru
      WWF-India
    Two-step framework:
      Evaluating spatial distribution
      Estimating abundance using camera traps
  Where:
    Trans-Himalayan region:
      Ladakh
      Jammu & Kashmir
      Himachal Pradesh
      Uttarakhand
      Sikkim
      Arunachal Pradesh
  Who:
    Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change:
      Bhupender Yadav
    Wildlife Institute of India (WII):
      National Coordinator
    Conservation Partners:
      Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru
      WWF-India
  How:
    Surveying 13,450 km of trails
    Deploying camera traps at 1,971 locations
    180,000 trap nights
  Significance:
    Enhanced understanding of snow leopard population
    Aids in effective conservation strategies
  Challenges:
    Inaccessibility of some habitats
    Elusive nature of snow leopards
  Way Forward:
    Establishment of Snow Leopard Cell at WII
    Periodic population estimation every 4 years
    Long-term population monitoring
    Structured study designs and consistent field surveys

In summary, the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) program, a pioneering initiative conducted from 2019 to 2023, has revealed that there are 718 snow leopards in India. This survey covered about 70% of their potential habitat, amounting to 120,000 square kilometers across the trans-Himalayan region. It represents the first-ever scientific count and extensive survey of the snow leopard population in India, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India with the support of various conservation partners. The survey’s findings are crucial for the conservation and long-term survival of snow leopards in India, guiding future strategies and policies.

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