First Status Report of Snow Leopard in India

Context: 

The first scientific survey of the Snow leopard in India shows the country is home to 718 of the elusive cats.

SPAI Report On Snow Leopard in India

• This is the first-ever scientific exercise, which took around 4 years ( 2019 to 2023) to complete.
• Agencies Involved: The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) served as the National Coordinator for SPAI.
• Region Covered: snow leopard habitat across the trans-Himalayan region, including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Estimation Method: The program conducted a two-step framework. 
  • The first step involved evaluating snow leopard spatial distribution, aligning with the MoEFCC’s guidelines in 2019. 
  • The second step estimated snow leopard abundance using camera traps in identified regions. 

Snow Leopard in India: Key Findings Of SPAI

• Estimation of Snow Leopard in India: The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Program, reveals a snow leopard population of 718 individuals in India. 
  • The maximum number estimated to be in Ladakh (477), followed by Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9).
• The current estimate puts the number of Indian snow leopards from 10-15% of the global population.

SPAI Report Recommendation

• The report suggests establishing a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at WII under MoEFCC to focus on long-term population monitoring. 
• Regular population estimation every four years is recommended for effective conservation strategies and addressing threats to snow leopards’ long-term survival.

About Snow Leopard

• Geographical Distribution of Snow Leopards:
  • Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • Geographical Distribution of Snow Leopard In India: Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh. 
• Threats: Habitat destruction, invasive species, climate change, and pollution, which collectively exert an unprecedented impact on their survival. 
• Protection Status: IUCN status: Vulnerable 
  • Internationally, snow leopards are listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), signifying the highest level of protection. 
  • within India, they hold Schedule I status under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
  • Conservation Efforts:Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP):

• • It is an alliance of all snow leopard range countries, non-governmental organisations, multilateral institutions, scientists and local communities, united by one goal: saving the snow leopard and its mountain ecosystems.
• Major Findings of GSLEP
  • It estimated  roughly 4000-6500 Leopard Populations worldwide, majorly in 12 snow leopard-ranging countries around 18 lakh sq km. 
  • The largest share encompasses the Tibetan plateau of China, followed by Mongolia and India.

News Source: The Hindu

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