Ladakh home to 477 snow leopards: Study

Home to 477 snow leopards Ladakh has one of the worlds highest densities of the big cat representing nearly 70 per cent of Indias species population a study by the union territorys Department of Wildlife Protection has estimatedAssessing numbers and distribution across an area of 59000 square kilometres researchers found that snow leopards occupied over 47500 square kilometresFindings are published in the journal PLOS OneBelonging to the genus Panthera that also includes lions and tigers a snow leopards habitat extends across mountainous regions of countries in Asia such as India China Nepal and PakistanResearchers said A deeprooted reverence for wildlife among Ladakhs communities combined with the economic benefits from snow leopard tourism and conflict management strategies helps sustain some of the worlds highest snow leopard densitiesOver 60 per cent of the snow leopards Panthera uncia in Ladakh were found to coexist alongside human populationsThe conservation model could be adapted and upscaled across the species range the team including researchers from Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun and National Tiger Conservation Authority New Delhi addedThe study the most comprehensive population survey puts forth a methodology for tracking these elusive big cats the world overGathering data has proved particularly challenging for snow leopards because of their shy nature and a preference for remote rugged terrain the researchers explainedFor the estimate the team surveyed the region for evidence such as footprints feces and scratch marks of snow leopards Presence of other carnivores such as brown bears and lynx wild herbivores and livestock were also assessedOver 900 camera traps were then set up with perfume sprayed right below the equipment to lure the animals into posing in front of the camerasThe curious leopards lower their heads to smell the novel smell and we have our prized photos the researchers saidPhotos captured by the cameras were analysed to identify individual snow leopards based on the distinctive pattern of markings on their foreheadThe snow leopards in Ladakh occupied 47572 square kilometres holding globally highest extensive densities of snow leopards in Hemis National Park two per 100 square kilometres Kargil 12 per 100 square kilometres and Leh one per 100 kilometres and making one of the worlds largest contiguous populations of 477 snow leopards the authors wroteResourcerich grasslands with a moderate climate and complex terrain tended to be home to a higher number of snow leopards which is likely due to a greater availability of prey and less human disturbance the authors saidThe study also generated a national photo library of snow leopards that could help conservationists monitor poaching and trafficking of animal partsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoeveratOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params