A: According to a government report released on January 30, 2024, India is home to 718 snow leopards.
Q: What percentage of snow leopard habitat in India is legally protected?
A: Only 34% of the snow leopard habitat in India, spanning 120,000 square kilometers, is under legal protection. The remaining 70% of their crucial habitat remains unprotected.
Q: What is the purpose of establishing a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun?
A: The proposed Snow Leopard Cell aims to conduct long-term population monitoring, organized studies, and consistent field surveys to aid in the conservation of snow leopards in India.
Q: How was the snow leopard population in India assessed?
A: The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) was conducted over four years (2019-2023), involving the installation of camera traps at 1,971 locations across various states and Union territories. This effort captured 241 unique individuals, leading to the current estimate.
Q: Which region in India has the highest number of snow leopards?
A: Ladakh has the highest number of snow leopards, with a count of 477 individuals. It is followed by Uttarakhand with 124 animals, and Himachal Pradesh with 51.
Q: What is the snow leopard's conservation status?
A: The snow leopard is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Q: How extensive is snow leopard occupancy in India?
A: Snow leopard occupancy was recorded over 93,392 sq km, with an estimated presence in 100,841 sq km, according to the report.
Q: When did the systematic surveys of snow leopards begin in India?
A: The first systematic surveys of snow leopards in India began in the 1980s, initially focusing on the western Himalayas, particularly Ladakh, and later expanding to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
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