India records 718 snow leopards in first Himalayan survey

India’s first Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) survey has recorded an estimated 718 snow leopards across the Indian Himalayas. Of this total, 477 individuals were identified in the Ladakh region.

Union Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh announced the findings on International Snow Leopard Day, emphasizing the government’s commitment to high-altitude wildlife conservation. The minister noted that the initiative aims to secure the future of the species, often referred to as the ‘Ghost of the Mountains’, through habitat protection and community engagement.