India Home to 718 Snow Leopards, First-Ever Survey Reveals

The survey underscores the need for long-term monitoring and conservation efforts for the species, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of mountain ecosystems.

• India is home to 718 snow leopards, accounting for 10-15% of the global population, according to the first-ever survey of the species in the country.
• The survey, conducted from 2019 to 2023, covered approximately 120,000 sq km of snow leopard habitat across the trans-Himalayan region.
• Snow leopards play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the mountain ecosystems and their population can indicate the health of the ecosystem.
• Despite their ecological importance, snow leopards face multiple threats including habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and human-wildlife conflicts.
• The report calls for long-term population monitoring and strategic conservation efforts, including the establishment of a dedicated 'snow leopard cell' at the Wildlife Institute of India.

3 Articles

BBC BNN Breaking mint