World Snow Leopard Day (WSLD), also known as International Snow Leopard Day, is observed globally on 23rd October each year to raise awareness about the conservation of the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia).
Theme:
2025 Theme: “Protecting the Mountain Guardian”
Focus: To promote awareness and encourage action for the conservation of the snow leopard and its high-altitude habitats.
Exam Hints:
- Event : World Snow Leopard Day 2025
- When? October 23
- 2025 Theme: “Protecting the Mountain Guardian”
- Origin: Established during the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic (2013)
- First Observance: 23 October 2014
- UN Recognition: UNGA officially proclaimed in 2024
- Population: 4,080–6,590
- Range Countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
- Project BRAHMANK (BRO): Campaign “#23for23 – “23 Minutes for Snow Leopards”
Background:
Origin: The WSLD was established during the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic in 2013.
Declaration: The 12 Snow Leopard range countries adopted the Bishkek Declaration, designating 23 October as WSLD and launching the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Program for long-term snow leopard conservation.
First Observance: The first WSLD was celebrated on 23 October 2014.
UN Recognition: In 2024, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) officially proclaimed 23 October as the WSLD.
About Snow Leopard:
Habitat: The snow leopard, also known as “ghosts of the mountains” , inhabits the high mountain regions of Asia, living in alpine areas above the tree line at elevations of up to 18,000 feet.
Population: Around 4,080–6,590 snow leopards are estimated to remain in the wild.
Range Countries: The 12 Snow Leopard Range Countries are Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Conservation Status: The Snow Leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Protection: The snow leopard is listed in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I since 1975 and Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Appendix I since 1986.
Snow Leopards in India:
Population Estimate: India is home to approximately 718 snow leopards, according to the 2024 Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI).
Conservation Efforts:
- Hemis National Park (Ladakh): Recognized for having the highest density of snow leopards in any protected area globally.
- Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve (Himachal Pradesh, HP): India’s largest conservation area (1,585 square kilometre ,km²), backed by a Rs.3 crore International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) donation for snow leopard protection.
Project BRAHMANK: BRO Joins Global Snow Leopard Conservation Campaign
Global Participation: On the occasion of WSLD 2025, Project BRAHMANK of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Ministry of Defence(MoD) joined the worldwide campaign “#23for23: “23 Minutes for Snow Leopards”, highlighting its support for global snow leopard conservation efforts.
Awareness Activities: As part of the initiative, BRO personnel organised a 23-minute group walk and run, a 23-minute yoga session, and a plantation drive of 23 fruit trees, symbolising commitment towards ecological balance and wildlife protection.
