Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard Latest News

A three-year camera trapping study has confirmed year-round presence and breeding activity of snow leopards in Jammu & Kashmir, especially the significance of Kishtwar Himalayas.

About Snow Leopard

• It is a medium-sized big cat that resides in the rugged terrains of Central and South Asia. 
• It is known as the ‘ghost of the mountains’. 

Distribution of Snow Leopard

• It prefers steep, rugged terrains with rocky outcrops and ravines and are usually found at an elevation of 3,000-5,000 metres or higher in the Himalayas.
• They are found in 12 countries, including China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Russia, and Mongolia.
• In India, they can be largely found in the high-altitude cold, arid, and rugged terrains of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Features of Snow Leopard

• The snow leopard’s pale grey fur is marked with dark rosettes, serving as camouflage against rocky terrains. 
• The snow leopard reaches a length of about 7 feet (2.1 meters). Almost half of that length is the tail. 
• The tail helps to provide balance when the cat climbs in mountainous terrain and warmth when the cat sleeps. 
• The snow leopard is solitary and lives alone except when mating or raising offspring. 

Conservation status of Snow Leopard

• IUCN: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I 
• Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I

Source: DTE

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