{"id":139900,"date":"2024-10-25T19:25:38","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:55:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=139900"},"modified":"2024-10-28T16:44:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T11:14:54","slug":"world-snow-leopard-day","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/world-snow-leopard-day","title":{"rendered":"World Snow Leopard Day 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Snow Leopard Day is celebrated on<\/span><b> October 23 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of every year.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was started in 2013, following the adoption of the <\/span><b>Bishkek Declaration in Kyrgyzstan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where 12 countries that host snow leopard populations agreed to collaborate in their conservation efforts.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-140272 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/unnamed-2024-10-28t140949626-671f70fd2eefc.webp\" alt=\"World Snow Leopard Day\" width=\"500\" height=\"313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/unnamed-2024-10-28t140949626-671f70fd2eefc.webp 1200w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/unnamed-2024-10-28t140949626-671f70fd2eefc-300x188.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/unnamed-2024-10-28t140949626-671f70fd2eefc-1024x641.webp 1024w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/unnamed-2024-10-28t140949626-671f70fd2eefc-768x481.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Geographical Spread: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, <\/span><b>India,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Distribution:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Closely aligned with the distribution of their main prey species, such as the ibex and blue sheep (bharal).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>State Animal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Recognized as the state animal of <\/span><b>Himachal Pradesh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span><b> Ladakh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Adaptations: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Known as the<\/span><b> &#8220;ghosts of the mountains<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; for their elusive nature and ability to camouflage.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Behaviour: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike other big cats,<\/span><b> snow leopards do not roar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; instead,<\/span><b> they communicate through growls,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> hisses, meows, and a unique sound called a<\/span><b> &#8220;chuff.&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are <\/span><b>crepuscular,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk. Typically solitary, much like other cat species.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Conservation Status:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>IUCN:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Listed as Vulnerable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>CITES:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Included in Appendix I.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listed under Schedule I for the highest protection.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Ecological Role of Snow Leopards<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-139897 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2511-671b9f2bdc64d.webp\" alt=\"World Snow Leopard Day\" width=\"400\" height=\"344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2511-671b9f2bdc64d.webp 787w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2511-671b9f2bdc64d-300x258.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2511-671b9f2bdc64d-768x662.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Controlling Prey Populations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> As apex predators, snow leopards play a critical role in regulating herbivore populations, such as ibex and blue sheep.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This regulation prevents overgrazing, which helps protect mountain vegetation and prevents soil erosion in delicate alpine environments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supporting Biodiversity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> By managing herbivore numbers, snow leopards indirectly support plant diversity, allowing a variety of flora, insects, and animals to thrive.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This fosters a<\/span><b> balanced ecosystem<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and sustains biodiversity across the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sustaining the Food Chain:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> After making a kill, snow leopards leave remains that serve as food for scavengers like vultures, wolves, and smaller carnivores, contributing to the wider food web.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indicator Species:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> As indicator species, the health of snow leopard populations reflects the ecological integrity of their habitats.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthy snow leopard populations signal a well-balanced ecosystem, including stable prey species and vegetation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Status of Snow Leopard in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Population:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> According to the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Program, there are an estimated 718 snow leopards in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Population Distribution by State:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ladakh (477) > Uttarakhand (124) > Himachal Pradesh:(51) > Arunachal Pradesh (36) > Sikkim (21)> Jammu and Kashmir (9)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conservation Efforts:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Government of India has designated the snow leopard as a flagship species for the high-altitude Himalayan ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hemis National Park:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Located in Ladakh, it is often referred to as the<\/span><b> &#8220;Snow Leopard Capital of the World&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to its high snow leopard population.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.043%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 130.811%; 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