Leh: Ladakh has been identified as a global hotspot for snow leopards, with a newly published study estimating the population at 477 – nearly 70% of India’s total. This makes the region home to one of the highest densities of the elusive big cat in the world, according to a comprehensive survey conducted by the Union Territory’s Department of Wildlife Protection.
Spanning an assessment area of 59,000 square kilometres, researchers found that snow leopards (Panthera uncia) inhabit more than 47,500 sq km of Ladakh, making it one of the most extensive and densely populated snow leopard ranges globally. The findings have been published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One.
The study, led in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi, utilized over 900 strategically placed camera traps and ground surveys for signs such as footprints, feces, and scratch marks. A special technique involved using perfume to lure the naturally curious animals closer to the cameras, allowing researchers to identify individuals by the unique patterns on their foreheads.
Hemis National Park emerged as a critical stronghold, with snow leopard densities as high as two per 100 square kilometres, followed by Kargil and Leh regions.
Experts attribute Ladakh’s conservation success to a combination of cultural reverence for wildlife, community-based tourism focused on the snow leopard, and proactive conflict management. Notably, over 60% of the snow leopard population in Ladakh is found coexisting near human settlements – a unique ecological balance that could serve as a model for other range countries.
“The snow leopard is notoriously difficult to track due to its secretive behavior and preference for remote, mountainous regions. This makes our study one of the most extensive population assessments in the species’ global range,” the researchers stated.
The study also led to the creation of India’s first national photo-identification library for snow leopards, which can aid in tracking individuals and curbing wildlife crime.
Snow leopards are native to several Asian countries including China, Nepal, and Pakistan, but India’s Ladakh region now stands out as a leading example in both population density and innovative conservation practices.
