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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