• UGI USER
  • Feb 07, 2024
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SNOW LEOPARD COUNT: UNDERSTANDING INDIA’S HIMALAYAN FEAT

Why in the News?

  • The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) estimates a population of 718 snow leopards across various states.
  • The study, conducted between 2019 and 2023, marks a substantial advancement in understanding the species’ distribution and abundance.
Source: IE

About The Survey :

  • The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), in collaboration with NGOs, developed India’s snow leopard estimation protocol.
  • Over three years, camera trap surveys were conducted across various states, resulting in the identification of unique individuals.
  • Extrapolation from camera trap data estimated the total snow leopard population in India at 718, signifying a crucial step in conservation efforts.
About Snow Leopard

·    Scientific Name: Panthera uncia

·    Ecological Role: Snow leopards serve as crucial indicators of mountain ecosystem health as they occupy the apex predator position in the food chain.

·    Conservation Status:

o    IUCN List of Threatened Species: Vulnerable.

o    CITES: Appendix I.

o    Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-I.

·    Threat : Faces threats from free-ranging dogs, human-wildlife conflicts, and poaching.

·    Habitat : Found in fragmented distributions across central Asian mountain ranges, including parts of the Himalayas like Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.