Snow Leopard Status Report released

On January 30, 2024, MoEFCC released a report on the status of snow leopards in India. The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Programme is the first-ever such scientific exercise. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is the National Coordinator for this exercise that was carried out with support the support of all snow leopard range states and two conservation partners, the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru and WWF-India.

 

The SPAI systematically covered over 70% of the potential snow leopard range in the country, involving forest and wildlife staff, researchers, volunteers, and contributions from knowledge partners. Covering approximately 120,000 sq km of crucial Snow leopard habitat across the trans-Himalayan region, including UTs of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, and states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, the SPAI exercise was conducted from 2019 to 2023 using a meticulous two-step framework. 

 

The first step involved evaluating snow leopard spatial distribution, incorporating habitat covariates into the analysis. This systematic approach included assessing the spatial distribution through an occupancy-based sampling approach in the potential distribution range. In the second step, snow leopard abundance was estimated using camera traps in each identified stratified region. 

 

Note that a significant portion of snow leopard habitat borders Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and China.

 

Results of the Assessment and recommendations:

• 13,450 km of trails were surveyed for recording snow leopard signs, while camera traps were deployed at 1,971 locations for 180,000 trap nights. 
• The snow leopard occupancy was recorded in 93,392 sq km, with an estimated presence in 100,841 sq km. 
• A total of 241 unique snow leopards were photographed.  
• The Assessment estimates the number of snow leopards in India to be 718. However, only a third of their habitat is under legal protection.
• Based on data analysis, the estimated population in different states are as follows: Ladakh (477), Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9).
• There is a need for establishing a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at WII under the MoEFCC is proposed, with a primary focus on long-term population monitoring, supported by well-structured study designs and consistent field surveys. 
• Consistent monitoring is essential to ensuring Snow leopards' long-term survival. For the same, states and UTs can consider adopting a periodic population estimation approach (every 4^th year) in the snow leopard range. These regular assessments will offer valuable insights for identifying challenges, addressing threats, and formulating effective conservation strategies.