Snow Leopard

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The Darma valley in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district has recorded the first sighting of a snow leopard at an altitude of approximately 11,120 feet, highlighting the rare occurrence.

Snow_leopard.jpg

Snow Leopard: The Endangered and Elusive Big Cat

Snow leopards are one of the most elusive and endangered big cats in the world. These majestic creatures are found in the mountainous regions of central and south Asia, including countries such as India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and China. Due to their shy and elusive nature, snow leopards are rarely seen in the wild, making them a mysterious and intriguing creature to study and learn about.

Snow leopards are known for their stunning beauty and unique physical features. Their soft, thick fur is covered with black spots and rosettes, which helps them blend in with their rocky mountainous habitat. Their long tails help them maintain balance while navigating steep terrain, and their large paws are equipped with fur on the bottom to provide traction on slippery surfaces.

Despite their stunning appearance, snow leopards face a number of threats in the wild. Habitat loss, poaching, and climate change are all contributing factors to their endangered status. Snow Leopard is listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List, which means that the species is at high risk of extinction in the wild. It is estimated that there are only 4,000-6,500 snow leopards left in the wild.

The snow leopard is also listed in CITES Appendix I.

Conservation efforts are being made to protect the snow leopard and their habitat. The Snow Leopard Trust, for example, works with local communities in the snow leopard's range to implement conservation programs that benefit both the big cats and the people who share their habitat.

Status of Snow leopards in India:

India is one of the twelve range countries that host this elusive feline. Snow Leopard is an important indicator of the ecological health of the Himalayan region and the Tibetan Plateau. Snow leopards help in controlling the populations of prey species such as ibex and blue sheep making their conservation even more important.

Habitat and Distribution in India:

Snow Leopard inhabits the high-altitude regions of the Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau, where the average elevation ranges from 3,000 to 5,500 meters. In India, Snow Leopard is found in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The estimated Snow Leopard population in India is around 400-700 individuals, which represents about 10% of the global population.

Snow leopards inhabit the following protected areas in India: Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park, Dachigam National Park, Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary, Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Rangdum Wildlife Reserve, Overa-Aru, Kanji, Gya-Miru and Baltal-Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuaries in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir; Pin Valley National Park, Great Himalayan National Park, Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary, Sechu Tuan Nala Wildlife Sanctuary and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh; Nanda Devi National Park, Gangotri National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand; Khangchendzonga National Park and Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas.

Conservation Status in India:

In India, Snow Leopard is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and it is classified as a Schedule I species. The Indian government has also launched the Project Snow Leopard in 2009 to conserve and protect the Snow Leopard population and its habitat.

Challenges for survival in India:

The survival of Snow Leopard in India is threatened by various human-made factors. Habitat loss and fragmentation due to mining, hydropower projects, and infrastructure development have reduced the available space for the species to thrive. Poaching, for the illegal trade of Snow Leopard skin and body parts, is another major threat to the survival of the species. Climate change, which is causing the melting of the snow and ice in the high-altitude regions, is also affecting the prey base of the Snow Leopard, leading to food scarcity. Greenhouse gas emissions will likely cause a shift of the treeline in the Himalayas and a shrinking of the alpine zone, which may reduce snow leopard habitat by 30%.

Between 2003 and 2016, 710 skins were traded, of which 288 skins were confiscated. In China, 103 to 236 animals are poached every year, in Mongolia between 34 and 53, in Pakistan between 23 and 53, in India from 21 to 45, and in Tajikistan from 20 to 25.

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The Darma valley in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district has recorded the first sighting of a snow leopard at an altitude of approximately 11,120 feet, highlighting the rare occurrence.

Snow_leopard.jpg

Snow Leopard: The Endangered and Elusive Big Cat

Snow leopards are one of the most elusive and endangered big cats in the world. These majestic creatures are found in the mountainous regions of central and south Asia, including countries such as India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and China. Due to their shy and elusive nature, snow leopards are rarely seen in the wild, making them a mysterious and intriguing creature to study and learn about.

Snow leopards are known for their stunning beauty and unique physical features. Their soft, thick fur is covered with black spots and rosettes, which helps them blend in with their rocky mountainous habitat. Their long tails help them maintain balance while navigating steep terrain, and their large paws are equipped with fur on the bottom to provide traction on slippery surfaces.

Despite their stunning appearance, snow leopards face a number of threats in the wild. Habitat loss, poaching, and climate change are all contributing factors to their endangered status. Snow Leopard is listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List, which means that the species is at high risk of extinction in the wild. It is estimated that there are only 4,000-6,500 snow leopards left in the wild.

The snow leopard is also listed in CITES Appendix I.

Conservation efforts are being made to protect the snow leopard and their habitat. The Snow Leopard Trust, for example, works with local communities in the snow leopard's range to implement conservation programs that benefit both the big cats and the people who share their habitat.

Status of Snow leopards in India:

India is one of the twelve range countries that host this elusive feline. Snow Leopard is an important indicator of the ecological health of the Himalayan region and the Tibetan Plateau. Snow leopards help in controlling the populations of prey species such as ibex and blue sheep making their conservation even more important.

Habitat and Distribution in India:

Snow Leopard inhabits the high-altitude regions of the Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau, where the average elevation ranges from 3,000 to 5,500 meters. In India, Snow Leopard is found in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The estimated Snow Leopard population in India is around 400-700 individuals, which represents about 10% of the global population.

Snow leopards inhabit the following protected areas in India: Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park, Dachigam National Park, Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary, Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Rangdum Wildlife Reserve, Overa-Aru, Kanji, Gya-Miru and Baltal-Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuaries in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir; Pin Valley National Park, Great Himalayan National Park, Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary, Sechu Tuan Nala Wildlife Sanctuary and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh; Nanda Devi National Park, Gangotri National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand; Khangchendzonga National Park and Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas.

Conservation Status in India:

In India, Snow Leopard is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and it is classified as a Schedule I species. The Indian government has also launched the Project Snow Leopard in 2009 to conserve and protect the Snow Leopard population and its habitat.

Challenges for survival in India:

The survival of Snow Leopard in India is threatened by various human-made factors. Habitat loss and fragmentation due to mining, hydropower projects, and infrastructure development have reduced the available space for the species to thrive. Poaching, for the illegal trade of Snow Leopard skin and body parts, is another major threat to the survival of the species. Climate change, which is causing the melting of the snow and ice in the high-altitude regions, is also affecting the prey base of the Snow Leopard, leading to food scarcity. Greenhouse gas emissions will likely cause a shift of the treeline in the Himalayas and a shrinking of the alpine zone, which may reduce snow leopard habitat by 30%.

Between 2003 and 2016, 710 skins were traded, of which 288 skins were confiscated. In China, 103 to 236 animals are poached every year, in Mongolia between 34 and 53, in Pakistan between 23 and 53, in India from 21 to 45, and in Tajikistan from 20 to 25.

2019

23-Oct-2019: First National Protocol to Enumerate Snow Leopard Population in India Launched

In a major boost towards protecting and conserving Snow Leopards, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Shri Prakash Javadekar launched the First National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India, on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day.

Snow Leopard enumeration of the Nation, which is the first of its kind, has been developed by scientific experts in association with the Snow Leopard States/UTs namely, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Giving the key note address at the Inaugural session of the 4th steering committee meeting of the Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Program, at New Delhi, Shri Javadekar dwelt upon range countries working collectively to conserve nature and enumerate the number of snow leopards. We will strive to double the Snow leopards population in the world in the coming decade. This two-day Conference is important because discussions, deliberations, cooperation and learning from each other and sharing the best practices will benefit us all. Therefore, we can conserve nature in a better way and we can do positive work collectively.

The Minister further informed about India’s success in tiger population with 2967 tigers i.e. 77 per cent of world’s tiger population residing in the country, wherein 26000 cameras were used to enumerate the near exact number. India is also home to 500 plus lions, 30000 plus elephants, 2500 plus single-horned rhinos.

Shri Javadekar also expressed confidence that the deliberations will be successful in chalking out practical program and lead to winning the battle against climate change by preserving and improving nature and by multiplying the epitome of ecology that includes Leopards, Tigers, Lions, Elephants, Rhinos and all animal kingdom. We must start thinking about capacity building, livelihood, green economy, and green pathway even in the Snow Leopard areas of the Himalayan range and cross country cooperation. This forms the basis for all Snow Leopard range countries.

Snow Leopard is found in 12 countries. They are India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The two day international meeting of GSLEP Program is being organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at New Delhi on 23-24 October 2019.

The 4th Steering Committee meeting of the GSLEP is being attended by Ministers from Nepal, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia along with senior officials from nine of the Snow Leopard countries. The Steering Committee meeting of GSLEP chaired by Nepal and Co-Chaired by Kyrgyzstan, will be sharing their experiences to intensify collaborative efforts towards conserving the Snow Leopards and its ecosystem. The delegates will also be discussing sustainable development efforts to be made in the Snow Leopard habitats and take into consideration green economic development, innovative conservation financing and population assessment of global Snow Leopards. The Steering Committee will also assess efforts in combating poaching and illegal wildlife trade of Snow Leopards.

2018

8-Sep-2018: Snow leopard spotted in Himachal wildlife sanctuary

A snow leopard was spotted at a height of about 4,000 metres in Lippa-Asra wildlife sanctuary in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, a picture of which was captured by a camera-trap installed by the state wildlife department.

The camera trap was installed in May this year, along with eight others at selected sites in the sanctuary after a preliminary survey. It was only last year that the snow leopard improved from 'endangered' to 'vulnerable' in terms of conservation status. The recent findings have ascertained that snow leopards are inhabiting new areas.

We heard about the presence of the elusive big cat from the shepherds and villagers, but could scarcely believe what they saw as we were analysing the results of what showed up on the monitor (of the camera-trap). During the survey, two brown bears were snapped through another camera-trap placed inside the sanctuary at an altitude of about 3200m.

Apart from these highly protected Schedule 1 species, presence of 53 species of birds was also recorded in the sanctuary during the survey.

2017

14-Sep-2017: Snow leopard no longer ‘endangered’

The conservation status of snow leopard has been improved from “endangered” to “vulnerable”. The decision was announced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – the global standard for assessing extinction risk. The status change followed a three-year assessment process by five international experts. However, experts have warned that the species still faces serious threats from poaching and habitat destruction. The elegant yet elusive creatures, which live in the mountains of central Asia, were first listed as endangered by the IUCN in 1972.

To be considered ‘endangered,’ there must be fewer than 2,500 mature snow leopards and they must be experiencing a high rate of decline. Being classed as “vulnerable” means a species has under 10,000 breeding animals left, with a population decline of at least 10% over three generations.

The rarely-sighted cats live in the craggy peaks of central Asia – including the Himalayas, and Russia’s remote Altai mountains. Their habitat covers more than 1.8 million sq. km / 694,980 sq. miles, across 12 countries. Scientists say they are threatened by poaching for their fur, infrastructure developments, and climate change. Usually found at elevations of 3,000-4,500m (11,480-14,760ft). Solitary creatures, they usually hunt at dawn and dusk and are able to kill prey up to three times their own weight. Mostly feed on wild animals, but will also prey on livestock. Their spotted coats change with the seasons – from a thick, white fur to keep them warm and camouflaged in winter, to a fine yellow-grey coat in summer.