Nepal records 397 snow leopards in its territory for the first time

Nepal, April 29.- The presence of 397 snow leopard specimens nationwide was recorded for the first time in a report based on data collected in seven study regions, a species considered a key indicator of ecological health in the high mountain ecosystems of Central Asia and the Himalayas.

The study "not only gives us a clearer picture of snow leopard populations but also informs future conservation strategies," Ram Chandra Kandel, director general of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, told EFE.

The report highlights that Nepal, despite representing just 1.6 percent of the species' total distribution range, is home to between 7 and 8 percent of its global population and plays a crucial role in its global conservation.

The assessment used data collected between 2015 and 2024 by government-led projects, conservation organizations, and researchers. These efforts employed cutting-edge technology, such as camera traps and genetic analysis of stool samples, to obtain highly reliable results.

The snow leopard remains classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with a global population estimated at between 4,080 and 6,500 individuals.

Climate change, which threatens to cause a 40 percent loss of its habitat, and the illegal wildlife trade are two of the major threats facing the species.

Furthermore, 42 percent of its habitat in Nepal is located outside protected areas, where threats such as poaching, infrastructure development, and human-wildlife conflict are more significant, despite the country having achieved consecutive years of zero poaching of tigers and rhinos.

A 2016 global report noted that approximately 75 percent of snow leopard trafficking cases are related to human-wildlife conflict or retaliatory killings, maintaining the risk to this species.

According to the report, strengthening community initiatives, improving habitat connectivity, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict will be key to ensuring the long-term survival of snow leopards throughout their range.

Snow leopards, found in 12 Asian countries, remain one of the least studied big cat species. (Text and Photo: Cubadebate)