KATHMANDU: International Day of the Snow Leopard has been observed today across the globe, including in Nepal, with an objective of raising public awareness of the conservation of the rare snow leopard.

This year’s International Day of the Snow Leopard was marked in Nepal around the slogan- ‘Guardian of the High Himalayan Ecosystem: Conservation of the Snow Leopard’.

Snow leopard inhabits only in 12 countries including Nepal and it is considered to be an indicator of clean and healthy mountain environment. Snow leopards are found in Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Magnolia, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

As per the recent statistics of Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, the number of snow leopard is 397 in Nepal. Nepal, which holds two per cent of world’s total snow leopard habitat, is home to 10 per cent of snow leopard population.

The Snow Leopard is found in an area of 30,500 square kilometers in the high Himalayan region of Nepal. Currently, it is estimated that there are between 4,000 and 7,000 snow leopards in the world.

Hari Bhadra Acharya, a senior ecologist at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, said that it is natural for the life cycle and daily routine of snow leopards living in high mountainous areas to be affected more due to the climate change.

According to him, the decline in its habitat has led to a decrease in the prey species for snow leopards, adding to the challenge of food scarcity for it.

The snow leopard has been listed by the IUCN as a red-listed species in terms of global risk. It is also called the queen of the mountains. Snow leopards are shy by nature, so it is hard to spot them.

The Ministry of Environment has prioritized the conservation of snow leopards and has prepared and started implementing the ‘Snow Leopard Conservation and Action Plan (2024–2030)’.

Snow leopards are generally found at altitudes ranging from 540 to 5,000 meters above the sea level. According to statistics, there are more snow leopards in the western part of Nepal compared to the east. Snow leopards are the least studied among the big cat species.