Context:

• 44 snow leopards are present in Himachal Pradesh, as part of the Snow Leopard Population Assessment.

What are the key findings of Snow Leopard Population Assessment?

• Survey Methodology: The study used camera traps to survey a vast area of the snow leopard’s habitat and also assessed the population of their prey species. 
• Hotspots of Snow Leopards: The highest densities of snow leopards were found in the trans-Himalayan regions of Spiti and Pin valley. 
• Community Involvement: The report emphasises the importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts. 
• Wild-Prey Population: The trans-Himalayan region also supports the highest densities of wild prey. 
  • For Example: The estimate of blue sheep population size was 891 for Spiti, and the ibex population size estimate was 224 for the Pin valley.

About Snow Leopard

• Geographical Spread:  Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, besides Himachal Pradesh. 
• Threat: Habitat destruction, invasive species, climate change and pollution are having an unprecedented impact on the snow leopard worldwide.
• Protection Status:
  • Appendix I : Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
  • Schedule I:  Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

• Snow Leopard Conservation Initiatives
  • Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme: India has been part of it since 2013.
  • HimalSanrakshak: Launched in 2020 as a community volunteer programme, to protect snow leopards.
  • Project Snow Leopard (PSL): It aims to promote an inclusive approach to conserve snow leopards.
• Significance: It serves as an indicator of the health of the Himalayan ecosystems in terms of climate change and biodiversity.

News Source: Economic Times