In May 2025, the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh hosts the highest recorded density of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in the world, according to a study by Department of Wildlife Protection (DWP), Ladakh in collaboration with Dehradun (Uttarakhand)-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and New Delhi-based National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- The study was carried out as part of the Snow Leopard Population Assesment in India (SPAI) program and was published by the United States of America (USA) based Public Library of Science (PLOS) in the journal PLOS ONE.
- The study estimated that Ladakh is home to477 snow leopards, accounting for nearly 68% of India’s total snow leopard population of 709.
Key Findings:
Snow Leopard Population and Density:
 i.Snow leopards in Ladakh occupy an extensive area of 47,572 square kilometres (sq. km).
ii.Hemis National Park in Ladakh recorded the world’s highest snow leopard density with approximately 2.07 individuals per 100 sq. km, surpassing previous global records from Tibet.
iii.Globally, the average snow leopard density ranges between 0.92 and 1.8 individuals per 100 sq. km.
iv.The study highlighted that over 60% of Ladakh’s snow leopards co-exist in landscapes shared with humans.
Research Methodology:
The study, described as the most intensive snow leopard survey ever conducted in Ladakh, covered a vast 59,150Â sq. km landscape. It used:
i.Double-sampling methodology
ii.Camera trap-based spatially explicit mark-recapture (SEMR) techniques
iii.Occupancy surveys and habitat distribution modelling
iv.Over 900 camera traps were deployed, supplemented with scent lures to photograph snow leopards and identify individuals based on unique fur patterns.
About Snow Leopard:
i.In 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) downlisted snow leopards from Endangered to Vulnerable, a decision questioned due to concerns over data accuracy.
ii.Snow leopards are native to the mountainous regions of South and Central Asia, spanning 12 countries, including India, China, Nepal, and Pakistan.
- Within India, snow leopards are found in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh (HP), Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh (AR).
iii.In India, snow leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting it the highest level of legal protection.
About Ladakh:
Lieutenant Governor – Brigadier (Dr.) Ball Dutt (B.D.) Mishra (retired)
Capital: Leh
Wildlife Sanctuary – Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
