Endangered snow leopardess with two cubs spotted in Miyar valley

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 18

It is good news for the Wildlife and Forest Department that the count of elusive snow leopards has increased in Lahaul and Spiti district in the past few years. Three days ago, the movement of a snow leopardess along with her two cubs was captured in a trap camera in the Miyar valley of Lahaul and Spiti district, delighting forest officials.

Amir Jaspa, a wildlife lover in Lahaul and Spiti, captured the movement of the leopardess along with her two cubs. Shiv Kumar, a forest official in Lahaul and Spiti, said, “In the past few years, the count of snow leopards has increased in the region. In 2017, for the first time, the movement of snow leopards was captured in a trap camera by the Wildlife and Forest Department in the Miyar valley. Since then snow leopards have been spotted in the Lahaul valley every year”.

“It is a good sign for the Wildlife and Forest Department in Lahaul and Spiti that the strength of the endangered rare species is thriving in the region. The cooperation of local Mahila Mandals of the Lahaul valley is also commendable, which are working relentlessly to protect the wildlife in the region,” he said.

“Lahaul Spiti district has become a safe habitat for snow leopards and other endangered species of wildlife and the Forest Department is getting cooperation of the local community. During the winter, due to heavy snowfall in higher reaches, wild animals come down to lower regions. It makes them prone to hunting because poachers are active during the winter,” he added.

In December last year, the wildlife wing had captured the movement of Himalayan Serow, a goat antelope, in the Spiti valley of Lahaul and Spiti district. The nearly-threatened Himalayan Serow has almost disappeared from the cold desert. It was spotted at Hurling village in the Spiti valley of Lahaul and Spiti district, delighting wildlife officials.

RISE IN NUMBER OF WILD CATS IN PAST YEARS

• The count of elusive snow leopards has increased in Lahaul and Spiti district in the past few years.
• Three days ago, the movement of a snow leopardess along with her two cubs was captured in a trap camera in the Miyar valley of Lahaul and Spiti district.
• In December last year, the wildlife wing had captured the movement of Himalayan Serow, a goat antelope, in the Spiti valley of Lahaul and Spiti district.
• Himalayan Serow has almost disappeared from the cold desert. It was spotted at Hurling village in the Spiti valley of Lahaul and Spiti district, delighting wildlife officials.