Overview

• Nepal’s first national snow leopard survey estimates a population of 397, up from prior figures of 300–350, based on data collected from 2015 to 2024.
• Ladakh, India, is home to 477 snow leopards, representing 68% of the country's total population, with Hemis National Park recording the highest density globally.
• Researchers used 956 camera traps and AI-driven forehead pattern recognition to identify individual snow leopards, enhancing accuracy and efficiency in population estimates.
• Over 60% of Ladakh’s snow leopards coexist near human settlements, benefiting from local cultural reverence for wildlife and low human disturbance.
• These findings underscore the importance of standardized monitoring methods to address global data gaps and inform conservation strategies for the Vulnerable species.