World Snow Leopard Day(WSLD), also known as International Snow Leopard Day, is annually observed across the globe on 23rd October to raise awareness about the conservation and protection of Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia), one of the world’s most elusive and endangered big cats, and their natural habitat.
- 23rd October 2024 marks the observance of the 11th International Snow Leopard Day.
Theme:
The theme of WSLD 2024 is “Safeguarding Snow Leopard Habitats for Future Generations”.
- The theme highlights the critical importance of protecting the natural habitats of snow leopards to ensure their survival and the health of mountain ecosystems.
Significance:
i.The Day commemorates the adoption of the ‘Bishkek Declaration,’ as well as the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Program, by all snow leopard range countries on 23 October 2013, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
ii.The Bishkek Declaration emphasises the commitment of Snow Leopard Range Countries. It focuses on creating thriving ecosystems for both snow leopards and the local communities.
iii.The Bishkek Declaration also declared the year 2015 as the International Year of the Snow Leopard.
Background:
i.During the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, from 22-23 October 2013, the 12 snow Leopard range countries adopted the Bishkek Declaration on the Conservation of the Snow Leopard and declared the 23rd October of every year as the International Snow Leopard Day.
- With the adoption of this declaration, the Snow Leopard Range Countries endorsed a comprehensive, long-term GSLEP Program
ii.The first-ever International Snow Leopard Day was observed on 23 October 2014.
GSLEP Program:
GSLEP is an unprecedented alliance of all snow leopard range countries that aims to save the snow leopard and their habitat and to identify and secure at least 20 snow leopard landscapes across the cat’s range by 2020.
- The snow leopard range countries have identified a total of 24 landscapes to be secured for snow leopards
Snow Leopard:
i.Snow leopards live in high alpine areas, mostly above the tree line and up to 18,000 feet in elevation. It is estimated that around 4,080-6,590 snow leopards are in the wild.
ii.The 12 Snow Leopard Range Countries are Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan), Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
iii.The Snow Leopard is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Snow Leopards in India:
i.The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Program was the first-ever scientific initiative to report a snow leopard population of 718 individuals as of 2024.
ii.Hemis National Park is a high-elevation national park in Hemis in Leh district of Ladakh, is belived to have the highest density of Snow leopard in any protected area in the world.
