The population of rare snow leopards in Himachal Pradesh’s high-altitude tribal regions has surged by an astounding 62 percent over the last four years. The state Forest Department’s Wildlife Wing presented these findings on Friday, revealing that the leopard count has increased from 51 in 2021 to 83.
This significant rise highlights the success of rigorous conservation strategies that actively involve local communities. The new data coincides with the commencement of Wildlife Week (October 2–8), marking it as a pivotal moment for wildlife conservation efforts in India.
Conducted through an extensive camera-trapping exercise, the survey spanned over 26,000 square kilometers in the high-altitude regions of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, and Pangi Valley. Notably, the study did not account for cubs, and it exceeded the previous upper confidence estimate of 73 snow leopards from the 2021 survey. This suggests a potential expansion of habitats.
The findings indicate that snow leopards are thriving not only within established protected areas like Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary and Great Himalayan National Park but also in surrounding regions, showcasing the critical need for conservation efforts beyond protected zones.
Besides snow leopards, the survey documented populations of various prey species such as blue sheep, Himalayan ibex, and musk deer. Other mammals surveyed included Himalayan wolves, brown bears, leopards, red foxes, and martens, emphasising the vibrant ecosystems supported by these areas.
Remarkably, the survey recorded the first official sighting of Pallas’s cat in Kinnaur and marked the rediscovery of the woolly flying squirrel in Lahaul. Such findings underline the extraordinary biodiversity these regions hold.
Officials attribute much of this success to significant community involvement. Local youth and women from Kibber village in Spiti played an instrumental role in the project’s success, assisting with camera trap deployments and data analysis. The collaboration with forest officers facilitated effective field operations, enabling the survey to be completed in just one year, compared to the three years taken for the earlier survey.
Furthermore, officials noted that this cost-effective survey has paved the way for creating a scalable framework for long-term snow leopard monitoring in India. With this achievement, Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the nation to conduct a second statewide assessment of snow leopards.
The increased snow leopard population provides hope and indicates the effectiveness of integrating local communities in wildlife conservation. As more regions look towards sustainable conservation practices, this successful model in Himachal Pradesh serves as an example for both national and international efforts.