Posted on July, 27 2009

Kathmandu, Nepal - The preliminary population estimate of snow leopards in the Nepal Himalaya conducted by WWF in collaboration with the government's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has showed the presence of about 300-400 animals.  The study was undertaken with funding supports from WWF-US, WWF-UK and WWF-Finland.

"The population estimate was based on the model describing the relationship between sign (scrape) encounter rates, the snow leopard numbers assessed through genetic analysis and the habitat suitability assessment in the Nepal Himalaya," says Dr. Rinjan Shrestha, Conservation Biologist with WWF Nepal.

"This model is useful for providing relatively good estimates of populations at landscape scales, when the conservation actions are urgently needed and when data gathering poses a challenge to developing and implementing conservation strategies."

Snow leopards are widely, but patchily and sparsely distributed throughout the alpine ecosystems of the Himalayan mountain range. Their preferred habitat is considered to be rugged, non-forested landforms, dominated by cliffs, rocky outcrops, and ravines. Because this terrain is quite inaccessible to people, and because snow leopards are elusive by nature, very little information is available on their distribution and population status.

"The declining numbers of snow leopard due to the widespread poaching for bones and pelts, and retaliatory killing call for urgent and strategic conservation action," said Mr. Anil Manandhar, Country Representative, WWF Nepal.

"Simple, inexpensive, but effective and standardized methods are needed to acquire reasonable estimates of snow leopard abundance and distribution in the Nepal Himalaya that can become the basis for a conservation strategy."

"In Kangchenjunga Complex, the presence of 18 snow leopards shows the success of the Livestock Insurance Scheme (LIS) in involving the local communities in saving the snow leopards from retaliatory killings," said Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Conservation Program Director, WWF Nepal.

The LIS is being replicated in other snow leopard landscapes with a vision to save the snow leopard throughout its landscape ranging from Dolpo in the west to Kangchenjunga in the east.

In Nepal, the endangered snow leopards are listed in Schedule 1 of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973, thereby making it a priority species for conservation.

"The results from the present study is exciting and positive but we can not stay unworried saying this," said Dr. Uday Raj Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal.


End Notes:

• The snow leopard (Uncia uncia) has been categorized as an endangered species by The World Conservation Union (IUCN) since 1972 and is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). While Nepal is a signatory to CITES since 1973, the species is further protected under the country's National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973.
• At present, there are an estimated 3,500-7,000 snow leopards in the wild. Of this, estimated 300-400 are found in Nepal which hosts 30,000 km2 of potential snow leopard habitat. Prime habitat in Nepal is characterized by steep, broken mountainous habitat in alpine and sub-alpine zones (i.e. 3,000-5,400m) where vegetation is sparse.
• Snow leopards are threatened in Nepal particularly as a result of habitat loss, loss of prey, and conflict with herders. To a lesser extent, snow leopards in Nepal also face threats from hunting and the sale of pelt in fur trade, and bones and body parts for use in traditional Asian medicine.
• Snow leopards have been sighted or documented in Nepal's mountain protected areas from Kangchenjunga Conservation Area in the east to Shey Phoksundo National Park in the west. However, the country's largest known populations are believed to occur in Dolpa, Mugu, Manang, Mustang, and Taplejung districts.