83 snow leopards and rare species discovered in Himachal’s trans-Himalayas

By A Representative 

The Wildlife Wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department has announced the results of the second state-wide snow leopard population assessment, confirming a robust population of 83 snow leopards across the state’s high-altitude landscapes. Conducted by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the Wildlife Wing, with support from the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT) and Royal Enfield Social Mission, the survey was completed in just one year, making Himachal the only Indian state to achieve a second state-wide assessment of this keystone species.

Using the Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) protocol, aligned with the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP), the survey employed large-scale camera trapping across six representative sites spanning 26,000 km² of snow leopard habitat. It detected 44 unique adult snow leopards, consistent with the 2021 assessment, captured in 262 photographs, leading to an estimated population of 83 snow leopards (excluding cubs), with a range of 67–103, compared to 51 (range 44–73) previously. The trans-Himalayan regions of Spiti, Pin Valley, Upper Kinnaur, and Tabo recorded the highest density, ranging from 0.16 to 0.53 individuals per 100 km². The potential population increase may reflect refined survey methods, shorter data-collection periods, and improved prey availability.

The survey also documented the first official record of Pallas’s cat in Kinnaur and the rediscovery of the woolly flying squirrel in Lahaul. Updated distribution maps were generated for key prey species like blue sheep, Himalayan ibex, and musk deer, alongside other mammals such as the Himalayan wolf, brown bear, common leopard, red fox, stone marten, mountain weasel, and yellow-throated marten.

The survey’s completion in one year, compared to three years for the 2021 assessment, sets a new standard for scalable, cost-effective wildlife monitoring. The methodology involved habitat stratification using occupancy surveys, followed by camera trapping in stratified zones, with refinements from the first survey to minimize bias. This has transitioned Himachal Pradesh from contributing to the global Population Assessment of the World’s Snow Leopards (PAWS) to the Continuous Long-term Assessment of the World’s Snow Leopards (CLAWS). Dr. Koustubh Sharma, Executive Director of GSLEP, noted that snow leopards, as apex predators, serve as a thermometer of ecosystem health, making continuous monitoring crucial for addressing threats.

The success is rooted in collaboration with local communities, including eight youth from Kibber village in Spiti, 20 frontline officers from the Spiti Forest Division, and 15 community members. An indigenous women’s team from Kibber participated in data analysis, marking a global first in community-based conservation. Goldy Chabra, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Spiti), highlighted the teamwork across tough landscapes, noting that the findings confirm healthy snow leopard populations and remarkable biodiversity. Preeti Bhandari, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), emphasized improved monitoring capacity and growing trust with communities.

The trans-Himalayan region, vulnerable to climate change, relies on tracking keystone species like the snow leopard to monitor ecosystem shifts. Deepshikha Sharma, Programme Manager at NCF, stressed the importance of collaborations with the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, local communities, Royal Enfield Social Mission, and the Snow Leopard Trust for participatory research and conservation. Vigyat Singh, Director of Eicher Group Foundation, underscored the power of collaborative conservation in safeguarding the snow leopard and its habitat.

While most detections occurred within protected areas like Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Great Himalayan National Park, Sechu Tuan Nala, and Asrang Wildlife Sanctuaries, many were recorded outside these zones, highlighting the role of communities in habitat protection. Amitabh Gautam, Chief Wildlife Warden, emphasized the urgency of conservation, noting the Wildlife Wing’s critical role in protecting snow leopards and other species facing extinction.

Royal Enfield Social Mission’s Keystone Species Project extends to the Himalayan brown bear and golden langur, fostering human-animal harmony through wildlife conservation and nature-linked livelihoods. Its broader initiatives, including The Himalayan Knot, The Himalayan Hub, Green Pit Stops, and The Great Himalayan Exploration, aim to build climate resilience across 100 Himalayan communities by 2030. This second assessment sets a global benchmark for wildlife monitoring, showcasing the power of science, community collaboration, and innovative conservation strategies.

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Images credite: Wildlife Wing, Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, and the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF)