Kathmandu. New statistics on the snow leopard, considered one of the rarest in the world, have been made public. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal, the number of snow leopards in Nepal is 397.
The IUCN says that Nepal, which has a total habitat of two percent of the world’s snow leopards, has 10 percent of the snow leopards. Its habitat is in the high mountainous region of Nepal, covering an area of 30,500 square kilometers.
According to the Snow Leopard Trust in the US, there are currently an estimated 3,200 to 5,390 snow leopards in the world’s 2 million square kilometers. Snow leopards are mostly found in 12 countries including Nepal, China, Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Recently, Nepal, India, Mongolia and Bhutan have been publishing new and official statistics on snow leopards by using technology, research and statistical analysis.
According to the statistics, there are at least 2,000 to 2,500 snow leopards in China, 953 in Mongolia, 718 in India, 397 in Nepal and 134 in Bhutan, informed Sarin Shrestha, Mountain Program Manager of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal. .
He said that the data was derived by analyzing and evaluating various data and research led by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation under the Ministry of Forest and Environment with the support of organizations including the Trust.
In this assessment, data was derived from various studies led by the government, conservation organizations and researchers from 2015 to 2024, informed snow leopard expert Shashank Poudel. He said that this data was obtained using state-of-the-art technology, including genetic analysis of camera traps and direction samples, and snow leopard distribution and population density data from seven different study areas.
This assessment achievement underscores the country’s commitment to protecting snow leopards and their sensitive mountain ecosystems.
The assessment was conducted by a technical team led by a senior ecologist from the Department of Parks in accordance with the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program’s ‘Population Assessment of the World’s Snow Leopards’ guidelines. In which individual researchers and conservation organizations, including the fund, participated.
Challenges of habitat encroachment
The snow leopard, which is found in only 12 countries in the world, is considered an indicator of a clean Himalayan environment. Nearly 60 percent of the snow leopard’s habitat is outside the park, and this habitat is becoming fragmented, which has added to the challenge.
In addition, there are challenges such as some people setting traps due to the feeling of change due to conflict, poisoning food, geographical difficulties, lack of proper technology, manpower and budget, and inability to conduct effective monitoring. Snow leopards are generally found at altitudes of 540 to 5,000 meters above sea level. The snow leopard is listed as globally threatened on the IUCN Red List.
The snow leopard, a cat species, uses its long tail to balance its body. According to statistics, there are more snow leopards in the west of Nepal than in the east, of which 90 are in the Dolpa region.
Dr. Ghanshyam Gurung, National Representative of WWF Nepal, said that the latest snow leopard statistics are a historic step in Nepal’s conservation journey, adding that these statistics will not only provide a clear picture of the snow leopard population but also inform future conservation strategies.
He also said that these results will serve as a basis for participatory conservation, noting that the assessment findings highlight conservation priorities that require enhanced protection measures to ensure the long-term survival of snow leopards in areas where they are found. .
Six-year action plan for conservation
The Ministry of Forests has prepared and implemented the ‘Snow Leopard Conservation and Action Plan (2024-2030)’, giving priority to the conservation of the snow leopard. The action plan has various strategic goals and objectives to guide conservation efforts.
The action plan aims to improve habitat and corridors for snow leopard conservation, reduce human-snow leopard conflict through community engagement, control poaching through effective law enforcement, and strengthen transboundary, regional, and international cooperation and support.
It is estimated that Rs. 1.77 billion will be spent to implement this action plan over six years. The plan estimates that about 35 percent of the budget will be spent on community participation to reduce human-snow leopard conflict and about 26 percent on wildlife crime management.
However, the action plan states that investments will be made in all strategies to partner, build capacity, and engage local communities and their leaders.
The snow leopard is one of the least studied big cat species. According to a 2021 publication by the World Wildlife Fund, only about 23 percent of the snow leopard’s global range has been systematically studied to date. Empirical data on numbers is available for less than three percent.
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