From 51 to 83: Himachal Pradesh witnesses huge rise in snow leopard count in 4 years

Himachal Pradesh has recorded a remarkable rise in its snow leopard population, with the latest count reaching 83, up from 51 in 2021, according to the state’s Forest Department. 

Conducted over the past year, the large-scale study covered 26,000 square kilometers, deploying camera traps across six key sites. Snow leopards were primarily spotted in the tribal areas of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, and Pangi Valley, landscapes known for their rugged mountains and rich biodiversity.

Interestingly, the big cats were also observed beyond protected areas like the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Great Himalayan National Park, Sechu Tuan Nallah, and Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary, suggesting enhanced habitat connectivity.

In addition to snow leopards, the survey charted the distribution of prey species such as blue sheep, Himalayan ibex, and musk deer, as well as other high-altitude fauna, including Himalayan wolves, brown bears, red foxes, and martens.

The study also reported the first confirmed sighting of Pallas’s cat in Kinnaur and the rediscovery of the woolly flying squirrel in Lahaul, further underlining Himachal Pradesh’s growing importance as a center for Himalayan wildlife conservation