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Nepal is home to nearly 400 snow leopards (Panthera uncia) as per its national estimate, the findings of which were released recently, a statement by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) stated.
There are 397 snow leopards in Nepal, with a mean density of 1.56 individuals per 100 square kilometre, according to the survey, which compiled data from seven study regions.
The coordination, data collation and analysis for the assessment was done under the aegis of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DoFSC).
The assessment utilised data on snow leopard distribution and population density collected between 2015 and 2024, from individual studies led by the government, conservation institutions and researchers. Cutting-edge technology including camera traps and genetic analysis of scat samples was used.
A significant portion of Nepal’s snow leopard habitat falls outside designated protected areas, according to Badri Raj Dhungana, Director General of DoFSC.
Strengthening community-based initiatives, habitat connectivity, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies will be crucial for ensuring the long-term survival of snow leopards across their range, he added.
Snow leopards are found in 12 range countries across Asia. They are among the least studied of the big cats.
Just about 23 per cent of the snow leopard’s global range has been systematically studied, and less than three per cent have empirical data on abundance, according to a 2021 WWF publication.
Snow leopards are categorised as a ‘vulnerable’ species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They have persistent threats in the form of habitat loss, climate change and poaching.
There were 718 snow leopards in India as per the Status Report of Snow Leopards in India released on January 30, 2024. Only a third of snow leopard habitat in India is under legal protection, as per the document.