Snow leopard numbers in Himachal Pradesh have grown to 83 in 2025 from 51 in 2021, according to a new government survey, pointing to improved habitat conditions in the high Himalayas.
The survey, carried out by the Himachal Pradesh Wildlife Wing in collaboration with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) in Bengaluru, covered around 26,000 square kilometres of trans-Himalayan terrain. The year-long study used large-scale camera trapping across six sites, making it one of the most extensive wildlife monitoring efforts in the region.
Officials said the higher count may partly result from better survey methods but also indicates a more stable environment for the elusive predator. “Snow leopards showed less movement in the survey, which shows the terrain has improved and there is more prey available for them,” said Shah Nawaz Bhatt, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Shimla.
Population density ranged from 0.16 to 0.53 animals per 100 square kilometres, with the highest concentrations in Spiti and Pin valleys, followed by Upper Kinnaur and Tabo. Most sightings occurred inside protected areas, including Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, the Great Himalayan National Park, and Sechu Tuan Nala and Lippa Asrang sanctuaries. Some individuals were also detected outside these zones, suggesting expanding ranges or healthier dispersal corridors.
The survey also recorded two species not previously documented in Himachal Pradesh: the woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus) in Lahaul and the Pallas cat in Kinnaur. Both inhabit rugged Himalayan terrain but are rarely observed.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Amitabh Gautam announced the findings during the inauguration of the 74th Wildlife Week in Shimla on Thursday. He said the department was strengthening conservation efforts amid threats from shrinking habitats and climate change. “The Forest Department, along with the Wildlife Wing, is taking important steps to protect these species,” he added, urging citizens to support wildlife protection measures.
India is estimated to host 718 snow leopards across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, based on 2023 government data. The species is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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