Himachal's Snow Leopards: 83 Spotted in State-Wide Population Survey
A comprehensive survey conducted by the Nature Conservation Foundation alongside the wildlife wing of Himachal Pradesh’s Forest Department has estimated that 83 adult snow leopards inhabit the state’s high-altitude landscapes. The year-long study, covering approximately 26,000 km² across six representative zones, recorded 44 unique adult individuals captured via camera traps, mirroring the number from the 2021 assessment but arriving at a higher estimated total population. Density estimates ranged between 0.16 and 0.53 individuals per 100 km², with the highest concentrations found in areas like Spiti, Pin Valley, Upper Kinnaur and Tabo. Significantly, many of these detections occurred outside formally protected zones, underscoring the rising role of local communities in conservation. The survey also documented rare sightings of other species — including the first official record of the Pallas’s cat in Kinnaur and the rediscovery of the woolly flying squirrel in Lahaul — illustrating that safeguarding snow leopards can benefit broader biodiversity.
The Key points
- A second statewide survey in Himachal estimates 83 adult snow leopards (excluding cubs).
- The study detected 44 individual adults via camera traps — the same number as in 2021 — but refined methodology yielded the higher estimate.
- The survey covered about 26,000 km² of snow-leopard habitat across six stratified sites in the Trans-Himalayan region.
- Down To Earth
- Density range: from 0.16 to 0.53 snow leopards per 100 km², with highest densities in Spiti and Kinnaur zones.
- Many sightings occurred outside protected areas, stressing the importance of community-managed zones in conservation.
- Local community participation was key: teams from Kibber village in Spiti (including women analysts) were integral to data-collection and processing.
- The survey also mapped distribution of key prey species like the blue sheep, ibex and musk deer, bolstering ecosystem understanding.
- Rare species records: the first official Pallas’s cat in Kinnaur and the rediscovery of the woolly flying squirrel in Lahaul.
- The improved survey was completed in one year, compared with three years for the previous assessment, reflecting stronger monitoring capacity.
- The findings reinforce the state’s role as a model for high-altitude conservation, with science-community partnerships at the forefront.
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