By hannover-web.com In a recent report published by the New Emerging Nepal newspaper on October 24, Nepal’s Minister of Forests and Environment, An Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, announced findings from a survey conducted in honor of World Snow Leopard Day on October 23. The report states that an average of 13 adult snow leopards currently inhabit the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area.
The survey took place from April 4 to June 2, 2024, within a designated 16-square-kilometer grid in the conservation area. Researchers utilized automatic cameras to capture images over a period of 60 days, which were later analyzed to estimate the snow leopard population within the 2035-square-kilometer reserve. According to the report, the estimated number of snow leopards in the area ranges from a minimum of 9 to a maximum of 24.
Revered as the “King of the Snow Mountains,” the snow leopard is considered a vital indicator of the ecological health of mountainous regions. This year’s theme for World Snow Leopard Day is “Protecting Snow Leopard Habitat for Future Generations.”
Minister Thakuri emphasized the snow leopard’s significance as a national symbol for Nepal, reaffirming the government’s commitment to prioritizing its conservation.
Additionally, as reported by the local English media outlet Khabarhub, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation of Nepal has initiated snow leopard surveys in regions such as Manaslu Conservation Area, the forests of Humla District, and Mount Churen Himal. They plan to compile the findings into a comprehensive national snow leopard census.
According to data from the International Snow Leopard Foundation, the global population of snow leopards is estimated to be between 3920 to 6390, distributed across 12 countries. Notably, 60% of these majestic cats reside in China. Besides Nepal and China, they can also be found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Russia, Mongolia, and Central Asia.
