Nepal now has 397 snow leopards
Nepal has released its first-ever national snow leopard population estimate, revealing 397 individuals across seven study regions, marking a significant conservation effort under the GSLEP’s guidelines. DNPWC and Department of Forests and Soil Conservation conducted a comprehensive assessment of snow leopard distribution and population density from 2015-2024 using advanced technology. The technical team, led by DNPWC, conducted an assessment following the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme’s PAWS, establishing a national population baseline for snow leopards. The assessment highlights the need for enhanced protection measures and community participation in snow leopard landscapes, ensuring long-term population viability and conflict mitigation in sustainable conservation strategies.
The findings also highlight how crucial it is to manage snow leopard habitats outside of PAs. Among the big cats with the least amount of research, snow leopards are located in 12 Asian range countries. Less than 3% of the snow leopard’s global range has empirical data on abundance, and only roughly 23% of it has been thoroughly examined, according to a WWF report. India, Bhutan, and Mongolia have recently established national snow leopard populations under PAWS principles. According to the statement, these evaluations, which now include Nepal, contribute to the increasing body of knowledge about the species and will help to better understand and conserve this magnificent species and its high mountain ecosystems.
