**Executive Summary**
The document details the completion of the first nationwide Snow Leopard Census in India (SPAI), conducted from 2019 to 2023, with findings released on January 30, 2024. It highlights the estimated population of snow leopards (718), their distribution, and the measures being taken by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to conserve the species and its habitat. The launch of SPAI 2.0 is also announced in Wildlife Week 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI):**
* The first nationwide Snow Leopard Census was completed between 2019 and 2023, with results released on January 30, 2024.
* The estimated snow leopard population is 718.
* Highest numbers were recorded in Ladakh (477), followed by Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21) and Jammu & Kashmir (9).
* The assessment covered approximately 1,20,000 km² of high-altitude habitat, accounting for over 70% of the species' potential range.
* **Conservation Efforts and Initiatives:**
* The MoEFCC launched SPAI 2.0 in Wildlife Week 2025 to further strengthen snow leopard conservation.
* The Ministry provides financial assistance to States/UTs under the Species Recovery Programme for focused conservation.
* The MoEFCC has prioritized key actions under the National Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Priorities (NSLEP).
* Project Snow Leopard (PSL) is being formulated and launched through consultations with States and agencies.
* SECURE Himalaya initiative aims to protect high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems, conserve endangered wildlife, and improve local livelihoods.
* **Legal and Management Framework:**
* Snow leopards have the highest level of conservation status under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
* The Ministry uses long-term, science-based management to prevent habitat degradation.
* The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh secures 7770 sq.km of snow leopard habitat and has been inducted into the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and Union Territory Administrations**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing conservation efforts in their respective regions.
* **Action Required:** Utilize financial assistance from the Ministry and actively participate in the formulation and implementation of conservation plans and initiatives.
**Local Communities**
* **Impact:** Their livelihoods are linked to the health of high-altitude ecosystems and snow leopard conservation.
* **Action Required:** Participate in community-based stewardship programs and support conservation efforts to improve their livelihoods and protect the environment.
**Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, and Conservation Partners (including NGOs)**
* **Impact:** Play a key role in coordinating and executing the snow leopard census and conservation efforts.
* **Action Required:** Continue collaboration with the Ministry, States/UTs, and local communities to strengthen population monitoring, scientific assessments, and community involvement.
Key Entities Referenced
Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI): First nationwide Snow Leopard Census conducted in India between 2019 and 2023. The findings were released on January 30, 2024.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): The primary Ministry responsible for the conservation of snow leopards.
Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Indian legislation under which snow leopards are conferred the highest level of conservation status, i.e. Schedule I.
Project Snow Leopard (PSL): An initiative launched by MoEFCC to protect high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems.
Ladakh: Region with the highest recorded snow leopard population.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: CONSERVATION OF
SNOW LEOPARDS
प्रव तथ: 11 DEC 2025 5:04PM by PIB Delhi
The Government of India completed the first nationwide Snow Leopard Census, officially titled the Snow
Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI), which was carried out between 2019 and 2023 and its
findings were released on 30th January, 2024. As per the findings of the 1st SPAI, the total estimated
population of snow leopards in the country stands at 718 individuals. The highest numbers were recorded
in Ladakh (477), followed by Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim
(21) and Jammu & Kashmir (9). The SPAI represents the first systematic, scientific assessment of snow-
leopard populations in India and covered approximately 1,20,000 km² of high-altitude habitat, accounting
for more than 70% of the species’ potential range.
The exercise followed a rigorous two-stage framework, combining occupancy based sampling to map
spatial distribution with camera-trap based abundance estimation in stratified regions. In total, survey
teams walked 13,450 km of transects for sign surveys and deployed camera traps at 1,971 locations,
generating about 1,80,000 trap nights and identifying 241 distinct snow leopards. The effort was
coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun with the participation of all snow-leopard
range States/UTs and conservation partners like local level NGOs. The second cycle i.e. SPAI 2.0 has been
launched by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEFCC) in Wildlife Week 2025 with a
robust framework to further strengthen the conservation of snow-leopard, its habitat and associated
species.
The Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations
under the Species Recovery Programme of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Development of Wildlife
Habitats for focused conservation of identified species. The Snow leopard is one of the 24 species
identified under this Programme. The SPAI provides the foundation for the Ministry’s follow-up
conservation action plan, which emphasises strengthened population monitoring, structured scientific
assessments and enhanced community involvement across high-altitude landscapes.
Under the National Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Priorities (NSLEP) the MoEFCC has prioritised
several key actions for the conservation of Snow leopard. The MoEFCC, embarked upon a process of
consultations with States and numerous agencies in the formulation and launch of the Project Snow
Leopard (PSL). SECURE Himalaya - an initiative to protect high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems,
conserve endangered wildlife like the snow leopard, and improve the livelihoods of local communities has
also been undertaken.
India has strong wildlife legislations and snow leopard is conferred the highest level of conservation
status, i.e. Schedule I under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The Ministry’s strategy for preventing
habitat degradation in snow-leopard landscapes is anchored in long-term, science-based management.
Efforts such as declaration of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh which has been
inducted into the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves secures 7770 sq.km of snow leopard
habitat through participatory approach in addition to the Nandadevi BR and Kanchendzonga BR.Long-term protection of high-altitude ecosystems is being undertaken through expansion and improved
management of protected areas, landscape-level conservation planning, community-based stewardship
programmes, and measures to prevent habitat degradation, supported by scientific monitoring and inter-
agency coordination.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST
AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Rajya
Sabha today.
*****
VM/SK
(Rajya Sabha US Q1326)
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2202397) आगंतुक पटल : 641
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही