Snow leopard count goes up, strong presence found in Spiti, Pin Valley, Upper Kinnaur

The highly endangered snow leopard population in Himachal Pradesh has nearly doubled, rising from 44 individuals in 2021 to 83 according to the latest survey conducted jointly by the Nature Conservation Foundation and the Wildlife Wing of the State Forest Department.

The second state-wide snow leopard assessment confirms the species’ strong presence across high-altitude landscapes, particularly in Spiti, Pin Valley, Upper Kinnaur and Tabo, which recorded the highest densities.

The survey found snow leopard density ranging from 0.16 to 0.53 individuals per 100 km². Using large-scale camera trapping across six representative sites covering nearly 26,000 km², researchers photographed adult leopards 262 times, leading to an estimated state-wide count of 83 adults, excluding cubs.

Dr Koustubh Sharma, Executive Director of the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP), said the Trans-Himalayan region shelters some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems, now increasingly vulnerable to climate change. He said tracking key species like the snow leopard helps gauge ecosystem health and adaptation. “Through collaboration with the Forest Department, local communities, Royal Enfield Social Mission and the Snow Leopard Trust, we’ve been able to monitor the landscape using advanced camera traps,” he added.

The study followed the Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India protocol, developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in line with global GSLEP standards.

“This survey was completed in just one year compared to three years for the previous one,” said Preeti Bhandari, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife).

Goldy Chabra, Deputy Conservator of Forests, added that forest staff, locals and researchers worked across toughest terrains to complete the assessment, reaffirming that the state’s snow leopard population remains healthy.