Let Snow Leopards Thrive!

The population of a vulnerable species Snow Leopards, is gradually thriving in Jammu and Kashmir indicating that the elusive cats are getting a stable habitat.

Snow leopards are mostly found in mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Poached for its attractive fur, organs and bones, it is estimated that 4000 to 10000 snow leopards are left in the world and India is home to around 718 of these elusive cats. 60 percent of snow leopards have been found in the Ladakh region alone. The snow leopard had its status changed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from Endangered to Vulnerable. Owing to the importance of Snow Leopard, it has been included in the list of Species under the Species Recovery Programme being funded through the umbrella scheme “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats”.

A recent study conducted by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and J&K Wildlife Protection Department has revealed that snow leopards are found and breed all year-round in the Union Territory. The three-year study from 2022 has been conducted in Kishtwar under the countrywide Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) programme.

As per the study, the snow leopards were found in winters in both Paddar area of Jammu division and Zojila in Kashmir division respectively. NCF and Wildlife Protection Department state that this signifies year-round use of the landscape by snow leopards—a critical indicator of stable habitat and a resident population.

It was not an easy task to conduct the study. More than 3000 camera traps were set up across the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park (KHANP), Paddar, and Zojila. The hard work paid as it resulted in identification of 12 adult snow leopards, with an estimated presence of up to 20 individuals. Besides, a mother with cubs was spotted in Kishtwar indicating that this is a breeding population. The camera traps also captured both snow leopards and common leopards at the same locations. Wildlife experts state that this raises important questions about species interactions and the possible impact of climate change on range shifts.

Shahid Hameed, Wildlife Research and Project Coordinator at NCF rightly states that it is time to treat the Kishtwar Himalayas not as isolated valleys, but as part of an interconnected conservation landscape.

The findings of the study point towards the importance of J&K as a key snow leopard stronghold. Our neighboring Ladakh, which was once part of erstwhile J&K state, forms the country’s largest habitat for the snow leopard. Ladakh is home to around 477 of the estimated 718 elusive big cats in India.

Given the importance of the Snow Leopard scientifically known as Panthera uncia or fondly called “Phantom of the Himalayas”, October 23 is observed as International Snow Leopard Day. Wildlife SOS launched a study on Snow Leopards in 2021 in the Thajiwas Wildlife Sanctuary which is a key corridor linking the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. The researchers had confirmed the presence of snow leopard across 355 km of terrain through pugmarks, scrapes, and scats. Findings revealed that 89% of the snow leopard’s diet comprised livestock, reflecting the overlap between pastoral lands and snow leopard habitats, and the looming threat of human-snow leopard conflict in these high-altitude zones.

Aaliya Mir, Head of the J&K programme, Wildlife SOS, maintains that snow leopards are an umbrella species; when they thrive, entire ecosystems flourish. “Every effort to protect them safeguards countless other species.

In 2009, Government started work on an ambitious project to save the existing population of the Snow Leopard in its bastion, the higher reaches of Ladakh with focus on its habitat improvement. After receiving financial assistance from the Centre, the wildlife authorities have started work on the ‘Project Snow leopard’ in Ladakh. The project spanned 3500 sq kms including Hemis High Altitude National Park in Ladakh. What’s important is that Project Snow Leopard is treated on a par with other major conservation programs like Project Tiger and Project Elephant, recognizing the snow leopard as an umbrella species for Himalayan ecosystems.

Besides disturbances in habitat, snow leopards face a major challenge due to drastic decrease of its ungulate prey including wild sheep and goats. In search of food, snow leopards are sometimes forced to climb down to lower areas resulting in incidents of human-animal conflict. Increasing human activities in forests and upper reaches disturbs the movement of snow leopards. Construction of roads and structures in eco-fragile zones forming part of the snow leopard’s habitat is taking a heavy toll on the elusive cat.

Rapid melting of glaciers in J&K and Ladakh besides depleting snow cover due to global warming and increasing pollution levels also affect snow leopards. There is a need to devise scientific strategies to understand behaviour and track their movements. Satellite collaring can help to draw their habitat, identify tracks and corridors.

Conservation of Snow Leopards in Ladakh is attracting foreign tourists and nature lovers to the mountainous region. J&K too has much scope for eco-tourism including showcasing snow leopards.

It is the responsibility of government and wildlife experts to join hands to protect and preserve Snow Leopards. We need to develop scientific strategies to promote coexistence of wild animals with humans to maintain ecological balance. Let’s give Snow leopards their due space to live and thrive!

Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir