Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard Latest News

Himachal Pradesh has recorded 83 snow leopards (up from 51 in 2021) as per the latest survey by the Wildlife Wing of the State Forest Department in collaboration with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF).

About Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

• Declared State Animal of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
• Found across 12 range countries – Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
• India is home to an estimated 500–700 snow leopards spread across the Himalayas and Trans-Himalayan region.
• Mascot of Khelo India Winter Games 2024: named Sheen-e She (Shan) in Ladakh.
• It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.

Key Characteristics Snow Leopard

• Medium-sized cat, weight 30–55 kg.
• Height: 55–65 cm | Length: 90–115 cm.
• Fur: Smoky-grey with black rosettes, providing camouflage in rocky terrain.
• Paws: Large, act like natural snowshoes to prevent sinking.
• Tail: Extra-long, used for balance and warmth.
• Ears: Small and round, reducing heat loss.
• Nasal cavity: Wide, short—warms cold air before inhalation.
• Leaping ability: Can leap 10 meters (30 feet) in a single bound.
• Vocalisation: Cannot roar, unlike most big cats.
• Evolutionary relation: Closer to tigers than leopards.

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Key Details of the Survey

• The exercise, covering 26,000 sq km across Spiti Valley, Kinnaur, Pangi, Lahaul, and Great Himalayan National Park, involved 271 camera traps.
• First official sighting of Pallas’s Cat in Kinnaur and rediscovery of Woolly Flying Squirrel in Lahaul also reported.
• For the first time globally, indigenous women from Kibber contributed to data analysis, highlighting inclusive community participation in conservation.
• Himachal Pradesh is the first state in India to complete a population estimation of snow leopards, setting a cost-effective, scalable model for monitoring.

Source: IE