India hosts 10 % of the world’s endangered species – Snow Leopard

The ‘Ghost of the Mountain’ – Snow Leopards of Himachal Pradesh 

India is host to ten percent of the Global population of Snow leopards, mainly found in the high mountain ecosystems – in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. And, within India, union territory of Ladakh has the most number of Snow Leopards as per a new population survey of the endangered animal with the help of Mysore-based Nature Conservation Foundation of Karnataka.

Of the five states in India, accounting for 718 snow leopards, that form 10 percent of the total 7,500 snow leopards surviving in the world at present, Ladhak has the maximum number of 477.  In India, the first evidence or a record of a snow leopard was in Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary KWS of Himachal Pradesh. According to a recent report, the maximum number of snow leopards, estimated at 51, were found in Lahaul-Spiti and Kunaur districts of Himachal Pradesh. Its potential habitat also extends into the upper regions of the Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, and Kangra districts.

As per the data collected across 10 sites in Himachal Pradesh, viz., Upper Spiti landscape, Upper Kinnaur, Pin Valley, Taboo, Miyar-Thirot, Bhaga, Chandra, Bharmour, GHNP and Sangla-Chitkul landscapes, 51 to 73 Snow leopards were reported and the Snow leopard density ranged from 0.08 to 0.37 individuals per 100 square kms in Himachal Pradesh.

In Himachal Pradesh, the state government has prevented trekkers from freely entering areas inhabited by Snow Leopards and has created trekking routes that have been modified in such a way that they do not cause any disturbance to the endangered species.

The other species found in the Himalayan range are the common leopard, Brown bear, Black bear, Yellow-throated marten, Stone marten, Masked palm civet, Himalayan weasel; pheasants, such as the Monal, Cheer pheasant, koklass pheasant, snow partridge, and ungulates, such as the musk deer, etc.

The Snow Leopard, also declared the State Animal of Himachal Pradesh, is also known as the ‘Ghost Of The Mountains’ given the rarity of its sightings. Endangered species the Snow leopards live in the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. In the IUCN-World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Species, the snow leopard is listed as vulnerable. In India, the snow leopard is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, giving it the highest protection status under the country’s laws.

Which is why,  the union government has developed a centrally-supported program called Project Snow Leopard, was started in 2009, as an initiative for strengthening wildlife conservation in the Himalayan high altitudes and aims to promote a knowledge-based and adaptive conservation framework that fully involves the local communities, who share the snow leopard’s range, in conservation efforts.

Currently, the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) is being undertaken by MoEFCC, Govt of India. WWF India is working with the MoEFCC and the state forest departments of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim for this assessment.

Amitabh Gautam, PCCF-Wildlife- CWLW (Himachal Pradesh) told me in response to a question about current status of Project Snow Leopard, that “Population Estimation of snow leopard and its prey species was undertaken vide MoEF & CC, GoI Project named “Project Snow Leopard” w.e.f. January 2018 to March 2021 in the entire snow leopard habitat. He further said that the only objective of Project Snow Leopard was the in-situ conservation of the Snow Leopard.

Now a new Centrally Sponsored project named “Project Snow Leopard” for Upper Spiti Landscape including Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary stands has been submitted to GoI for approval, Gautam said.

The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India, carried out by the Himachal Pradesh’s wildlife wing with help from the Mysore-based Nature Conservation Foundation by installing camera traps stated that the maximum number of snow leopards was reported in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts. Its potential habitat also extends into the upper regions of the Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, and Kangra districts. The researchers spotted the common leopard and the snow leopard in the same camera trap at two stations in the Great Himalayan National Park, suggesting a habitat overlap between them.

Rajinder Rajan, a writer from Hamirpur Himachal Pradesh told me that the wildlife wing of the forest department spent five years studying the habitat of snow leopards. The trans-Himalayan regions of Spiti, Tabo, and Pin Valley recorded the highest densities of snow leopards counted 75 so far. It is found at a height of 12500 feet above sea level and has its safe hideouts in caves located in mountains covered with heavy snow. The state govt of Himachal is trying to conserve and protect this rare snow big cat. Habitat destruction, invasive species, climate change and pollution are having an unprecedented impact on the snow leopard worldwide.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India, had initiated work on a flagship Snow Leopard Scheme way back in 1988, but it could not be launched. In 2004, the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) began a consultative process in all five Himalayan states (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh) to assess the need and scope for initiating Project Snow Leopard.

The Ministry of Environment, and Forests constituted a committee to formulate Project Snow Leopard in response to the recommendations of the national workshop organized in Leh in July 2006 jointly by the MoEF and the Jammu & Kashmir Department of Wildlife Protection, in technical collaboration with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the International Snow Leopard Trust (ISLT).

This workshop, chaired by the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, brought together representatives of all five Himalayan states and scientists of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), NCF, ISLT, and several other institutions and NGOs for discussions on the need, scope, and structure for the Project Snow Leopard. Following the recommendations of this national workshop, the MoEF constituted a committee to draft a strategy and action plan for Project Snow Leopard.