The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) programme, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), marks a significant milestone in wildlife conservation efforts. With the participation of all snow leopard range states and support from two conservation partners – the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru, and WWF-India – this pioneering scientific exercise aimed to assess the population of snow leopards in India.
The assessment covered more than 70% of the potential snow leopard range, encompassing approximately 120,000 square kilometers of crucial habitat across the trans-Himalayan region. This included the Union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The comprehensive study, conducted from 2019 to 2023, utilized a meticulous two-step framework. The first step involved estimating snow leopard abundance using camera traps in identified stratified regions. These efforts were substantial, with 13,450 kilometers of trails surveyed for recording snow leopard signs, and camera traps deployed at 1,971 locations for an impressive 180,000 trap nights.
The results of the SPAI programme are encouraging, revealing the presence of snow leopards in 93,392 square kilometers, with an estimated presence in 100,841 square kilometers. The study captured photographs of 241 unique snow leopards. Importantly, the data analysis allowed for the estimation of snow leopard populations in different states: Ladakh (477), Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9).
Prior to this extensive study, the snow leopard range in India was undefined, hampering conservation efforts for this vulnerable species. Until 2016, around one-third of the range (approximately 100,347 square kilometers) received minimal research attention, a figure reduced to just 5% in specific areas like Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
Recent status surveys have substantially improved our understanding, providing preliminary information for 80% of the range (about 79,745 square kilometers), compared to 56% in 2016. This newfound knowledge is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies.
The report also emphasizes the need for a dedicated snow leopard cell at the Wildlife Institute of India under the Ministry, focusing on long-term population monitoring. This would be supported by well-structured study designs and consistent field surveys. Establishing such a dedicated cell will be instrumental in ensuring ongoing efforts to protect snow leopards.
To further enhance conservation strategies, the report suggests that states and Union Territories adopt a periodic population estimation approach, conducting assessments every fourth year within the snow leopard range. These regular evaluations will provide valuable insights for identifying challenges, addressing threats, and refining conservation strategies over time.
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