Ladakh in India records world’s highest snow leopard density

In a scientific study conducted recently, it was revealed that Ladakh is home to the highest density of snow leopards ever recorded internationally. As per the peer-reviewed research published in the journal PLOS ONE, Ladakh has nearly 68% of India’s total snow leopard population.There are 477 snow leopards alone in the region out of the national total of 709, which is a remarkable feat!What does report revealsSnow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an elusive big cat that can be spotted across rugged mountain terrains in 12 countries across South and Central Asia, including India. The study also revealed that the global snow leopard densities usually range between 0.92 and 1.8 animals per 100 km². The report says that Hemis National Park in Ladakh is now home to an unprecedented density of about 2.07 animals per 100 km², the highest ever recorded on the planet! This surpasses previous high-density estimates from regions in Tibet, which topped out at around 1.84 animals per 100 km².The study also shows that 39% of Ladakh’s snow leopards have the majority of their activity centered within protected areas. In addition, some 57% of the big cats were found to use these protected zones in their movement patterns, highlighting the significance of such regions in the conservation of snow leopard.Most comprehensive snow leopard surveyThis research is being touted as the most comprehensive snow leopard survey ever conducted in Ladakh which used a double-sampling technique by researchers. The technique was used over 59,150 km² landscape! For those who don’t know, the method combined occupancy surveys, camera traps, spatially explicit mark-recapture techniques, and habitat modeling to produce the most accurate assessment to date of the snow leopard’s population and distribution in the region.And the credit goes to…Pankaj Raina who was the lead author of the study also serves as a divisional forest officer with the eco-task force project in Jammu. He credited the high density of snow leopards in Ladakh to many factors but mostly emphasised the role of the Ladakhi people's cultural reverence for wildlife. Next, the availability of wild prey in the region and consistent conservation work by the Ladakh Wildlife Department. He also talked about the role of Ladakh’s harsh and remote terrain and low human population which promotes wildlife in the region. Local communities have long practiced coexistence with nature, which is reflected in the healthy population of snow leopards,” he explained.