Project Snow Leopard | HPPSC HPAS Preparation - HPPSC HPAS (Himachal Pardesh) PDF Download

Snow Leopard Conservation in Himachal Pradesh

• The Snow Leopard, the state animal of Himachal Pradesh, is a focus of conservation efforts led by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (HPFD) in collaboration with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF). 
• Both agencies have played a pivotal role in developing and implementing Project Snow Leopard alongside the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF), Government of India (GoI).

Spiti Valley: A Crucial Habitat for Snow Leopards

• The Spiti Valley is one of India's most significant snow leopard habitats. In collaboration with the HPFD, the NCF has been leading conservation and research efforts in this region. 
• Together, they have prepared a landscape-based participatory management plan for the entire Spiti Wildlife Division, focusing on snow leopard conservation.

Project Snow Leopard

• The Snow Leopard Project, valued at Rs. 5.15 crores, was accepted by MoEF, GoI for implementation from 2010-11 onward. This four-year project aims to establish a globally unique field-based snow leopard research and conservation facility in Spiti Valley. 
• One of the key initiatives is India's first comprehensive radio-collaring project on snow leopards and their prey, to generate long-term data for conservation.

Comparative Analysis: Mongolia and India

• The only other similar facility in Asia is run by the Snow Leopard Trust in Mongolia, but the habitats differ significantly. 
• The Mongolian snow leopard habitat ranges between 1,000 and 2,500 meters, while the Himalayan snow leopard habitat is located above 3,200 meters. 
• These differences are important when studying and managing snow leopard conservation in the Indian context.

Himalayan Snow Leopard Research Centre

A Himalayan Snow Leopard Research Centre is proposed to be established near Kibber Village in Spiti. The centre will boost research efforts by focusing on both short- and long-term studies of snow leopards.
Its key objectives are:

• Establish a research and training centre for snow leopard conservation, equipped with infrastructure for advanced research, including workspaces, laboratories, communication systems, and accommodation.
• Initiate the first comprehensive snow leopard radio-collaring project in India to better understand their behavior and movement.

Radio Telemetry for Snow Leopard Research

The use of radio telemetry is crucial to understanding snow leopard movements across human-dominated landscapes in Spiti.
Key questions addressed by the research include:

• Accurate estimates of snow leopard population.
• The area required by each animal based on age and sex.
• Factors determining range quality, such as prey availability, topography, and disturbances.
• The role of individual snow leopards in human-wildlife conflict.

These efforts mark a significant step towards ensuring the long-term conservation of snow leopards in Himachal Pradesh, contributing to global efforts in safeguarding this elusive and endangered species.