Ladakh: India has recorded an estimated 718 snow leopards across the Indian Himalayas, including 477 in Ladakh, according to the country’s first Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI), Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said on Friday.
Marking International Snow Leopard Day, Singh highlighted India’s efforts to protect the endangered species, popularly known as the “Ghost of the Mountains”, and reiterated the government’s commitment to conserving high-altitude wildlife and their habitats.
In a post on X, the minister said, “On #InternationalSnowLeopardDay, we celebrate India’s dedication to protecting the ‘Ghost of the Mountains’.”
He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for biodiversity conservation, saying India continued to play a leading role in protecting wildlife in high-altitude regions.
“Inspired by Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s vision for biodiversity, India continues to lead in high-altitude wildlife conservation,” Singh wrote.
Citing the findings of the first SPAI survey, the minister said the assessment estimated 718 snow leopards across the Indian Himalayas, with Ladakh accounting for 477 of them.
Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the species through habitat conservation and community participation.
“The Government of India @moefcc is committed to securing the future of this iconic species through habitat protection & community engagement,” he said.
Meanwhile, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced that the government had extended privileges and immunities to the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), its representatives and officials under the United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1947.
Yadav said the move reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation in big cat conservation and would enable the IBCA to function more effectively as a global platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange and capacity building.
The development was formalised through a Gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
In a post on X, Yadav said, “Glad to share that the Government of India has issued the Gazette Notification extending privileges and immunities to the International Big Cat Alliance, its representatives, and officials under the United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1947.”
He added that the decision reflected India’s commitment to international conservation efforts and emphasised the broader ecological importance of protecting big cats.
“The conservation of big cats is also instrumental in preserving and protecting their ecosystems and, hence, the well-being of our Planet,” Yadav said.
The International Big Cat Alliance aims to strengthen global cooperation in conserving big cat species through coordinated conservation initiatives, scientific knowledge sharing and capacity-building programmes.
[DD news]