Maarg Manthan · Topic 8.4

Project Snow Leopard

Environment & Ecology › Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes · Topic 8.4

Project Snow Leopard was launched by the Government of India in January 2009 to safeguard the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its habitat in the high Himalayas through a participatory approach involving local communities, in the states and union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The snow leopard is listed Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and in CITES Appendix I. India's first scientific national assessment, the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) done between 2019 and 2023, estimated 718 snow leopards, with Ladakh holding the largest share at about 477. Related efforts include the SECURE Himalaya project (2017-2022) of the UNDP and GEF, and the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP) of 12 range countries launched at Bishkek in 2013. The snow leopard is the state animal of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, and International Snow Leopard Day is 23 October.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes

At a Glance

Launched January 2009
IUCN status Vulnerable
India estimate 718 (SPAI)
Range countries 12 (GSLEP)
International day 23 October
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows Project Elephant. It covers a high-altitude carnivore programme, showing how a flagship species supports conservation of an entire mountain ecosystem and its people. Previous topic: Project Elephant. Next topic: Vulture Conservation Project.

What Are the Key Facts of the Snow Leopard Programmes?

Aspect	Details
The species	Big cat of Central and South Asian mountains, found at 3,000 to 5,500 metres. Thick grey coat, long tail for balance, called the ghost of the mountains
Range in India	Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh; about 100,000 sq km of habitat
Project Snow Leopard (2009)	Aims at a landscape approach with community participation and village-level plans; led by the Ministry of Environment with the Wildlife Institute of India
SPAI (2019-2023)	First national scientific estimate: 718 animals; Ladakh about 477, Uttarakhand 124, Himachal Pradesh 51, Arunachal Pradesh 36, Sikkim 21, Jammu and Kashmir 9
SECURE Himalaya	Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems; a GEF-UNDP project (2017-2022) in Himachal, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim
GSLEP	Bishkek Declaration 2013 by 12 range countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Hemis National Park	Ladakh; among the best places in the world to see snow leopards

What Are the Threats and Community Measures?

Poaching and trade: for skin and bones
Retaliatory killing: when leopards kill livestock in unsafe corrals
Habitat loss: from infrastructure, mining and overgrazing
Climate change: shifts treeline and affects prey such as blue sheep and ibex
Corral improvement: predator-proof livestock pens
Insurance and compensation: for livestock loss
Homestays: tourism income for villagers
Snow leopard camera traps: monitoring with local volunteers

What Else Should You Remember?

Prey species: blue sheep or bharal, Himalayan ibex, Tibetan argali, marmots and Himalayan tahr
Himalayan wolf: a co-predator
Ecosystem indicator: apex predator of high mountain systems
Habitat protected areas: Hemis, Pin Valley, Kibber, Gangotri, Great Himalayan National Park, Khangchendzonga, Namdapha
Changthang: Ladakh plateau; cold desert
Spiti: Himachal; snow leopard homestay model
Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust: works in Ladakh homestays
Nature Conservation Foundation: Mysuru-based group working on snow leopard monitoring
Snow Leopard Conservation Fund: in Himachal
Trans-Himalayan ecosystem: cold arid steppe with unique fauna
Tibetan antelope: chiru, an Endangered species in the Trans-Himalaya
Black-necked crane: Ladakh summer breeder
Chang pa: nomadic herders who produce pashmina
Pashmina: fine wool from Changthangi goats
Climate: glaciers feed rivers
Himalayan hotspot: snow leopards are within the Himalaya hotspot
Link to previous: see Project Elephant
Link to next: see Vulture Conservation Project
Link to zones: see Bio-Geographical Classification of India for the Trans-Himalaya
Caution: the 718 figure is the first systematic estimate and is not comparable with older guesses
Genetics: DNA from scat helps distinguish individuals
Cross-border: India works with neighbours on transboundary conservation
Exam hint: learn state animal links, Hemis, GSLEP, SECURE and the 718 estimate
Panthera uncia: the scientific name of the snow leopard, which is sometimes placed in the genus Uncia
Home range: a single animal may need hundreds of square kilometres, so protected areas alone are not enough
Livestock loss: snow leopards kill sheep, goats and yaks; a single night’s surplus killing in a poorly built corral can cause large losses to a family
Predator-proof corrals: reinforced walls and roofing were built with community help under the project
Livestock vaccination: reduces disease spread between domestic stock and wild prey
Alpine pastures: grazing pressure must be balanced with wild prey needs
Tourism: winter snow leopard tourism in Ladakh gives homestay income and a stake in protecting the cat
Patrolling and law: joint patrols and the Wildlife Protection Act deter poaching
Scat surveys: genetic analysis of droppings counts individual animals
Snow leopard in culture: features in the folklore of Himalayan communities and is protected by many herders

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Launch: 2009
Status: Vulnerable
Estimate: 718
Current affairs link: SPAI results and snow leopard day
Common errors: calling it Endangered or confusing GSLEP with SECURE Himalaya

As an analytical point, the snow leopard programmes show that high-altitude conservation depends on herders and homestays as much as on parks. Securing prey, predator-proof corrals and fair compensation turns villagers into partners.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Aim Species and habitat
Tool Community
Data SPAI

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Vulture Conservation Project. Next topic: Vulture Conservation Project.

Key People and Terms

SPAI Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India
SECURE Himalaya GEF-UNDP mountain project
GSLEP Global snow leopard programme
Bharal Blue sheep
Trans-Himalaya Cold arid north
Corral Livestock pen

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Project launched 2009.
SPAI estimate: 718.
Status: Vulnerable.
GSLEP at Bishkek (2013).
State animal of Ladakh and HP.

Do Not Confuse With

Snow leopard and common leopard High-altitude versus widespread
GSLEP and SECURE Himalaya Global programme versus Himalayan project
Bharal and ibex Blue sheep versus wild goat

Memory Hook

Seven-eighteen cats, twelve countries, one ghost of the mountains.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for status, numbers and programmes. These points help.

Range Himalaya
Threats Conflict
Model Community

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the conservation challenges of the snow leopard and the role of community-based programmes in the Himalaya.”

How to Answer

Species Range.
Threats Conflict.
Programmes SECURE.
Way Community.

GS Relevance

Prelims: status, range, projects, population, GSLEP. GS Paper 3: wildlife and Himalayan ecology.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Project Snow Leopard launched?

Project Snow Leopard was launched by the Government of India in January 2009 to conserve the snow leopard and its habitat in the high Himalayas using a landscape approach and the participation of local communities. It covers the states and union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

How many snow leopards are there in India?

The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India, the first systematic national survey done in 2019 to 2023, estimated 718 snow leopards, with Ladakh having the largest number, about 477. This estimate was released in 2024 and is considered the baseline, so readers should check for any later update.

What is the SECURE Himalaya project?

SECURE Himalaya is a project of the Ministry of Environment with the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility to secure livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high-range Himalayan ecosystems. It worked with communities in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim from 2017 to 2022 to protect snow leopards and their prey.

What is GSLEP?

The Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme is an international initiative of the 12 snow leopard range countries, launched at the Bishkek Global Snow Leopard Forum in 2013. It aims to secure at least 20 snow leopard landscapes by 2020 and promote joint monitoring, anti-poaching and community support.

What is the conservation status of the snow leopard?

The snow leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, was earlier Endangered, and is included in Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of India's Wildlife Protection Act. Its main threats are poaching, retaliatory killing, loss of prey, habitat degradation and climate change in the mountains.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The snow leopard is the state animal of Ladakh.

True

Also of Himachal Pradesh.

2 The snow leopard is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

False

It is Vulnerable.

3 SPAI estimated 718 snow leopards in India.