[ad_1]
New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said the first scientific survey of snow leopards in India shows that the country is home to 718 of the elusive cats.
The population assessment report, based on a study conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), was released by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav.
The report calls for setting up a dedicated ‘Snow Leopard Cell’ in WII under the ministry, which will focus on long-term population monitoring.
“States and Union Territories (UTs) may consider adopting periodic population assessment approach (every fourth year) in the snow leopard range. “These regular assessments will provide valuable insights to identify challenges, address threats, and formulate effective conservation strategies,” the population assessment report said.
The exercise, conducted from 2019 to 2023, covered approximately 120,000 sq km of snow leopard habitat in the trans-Himalayan region including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
The surveyors used a two-step method. The first involved an assessment of the snow leopard’s spatial distribution.
In the second phase, camera traps were used to estimate their population.
During the exercise, 13,450 km of routes were surveyed while camera traps were deployed at 1,971 locations.
A total of 241 snow leopards were photographed.
Based on data analysis of the report, Ladakh, with 477 individuals, is the major habitat of snow leopard in India, followed by Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21) and Jammu and Kashmir. This is Kashmir. (9).
Globally, the snow leopard is listed as a vulnerable species.
It has been given the highest wildlife conservation status in India.
The number of snow leopards worldwide is estimated to be between 3,000 and 7,000. China is known to have the largest population of animals, but the exact number is not known.
Unlock a world of benefits! From informative newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and personalized newsfeeds – it’s all here, just a click away! log in now!
Catch all business news, market news, breaking news events and latest news updates on Live Mint. Check out all the latest action on Budget 2024 here. Download Mint News app to get daily market updates.
more less
Published: Jan 30, 2024, 10:54 PM IST
[ad_2]
