36 Snow Leopards Spotted in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is home to 36 snow leopards, as revealed by a groundbreaking survey. The state’s first robust population assessment highlights conservation efforts and the challenges faced in protecting this elusive species in the rugged, high-altitude regions.
In a rather splendid turn of events, it appears the snow leopards of Arunachal Pradesh have taken to a life of fame, with 36 of them being officially counted and reported by Forest Minister Wangki Lowang. The announcement, backed by a report aptly titled “Statewide Assessment of the Population and Density of Snow Leopards in Arunachal Pradesh,” marks the first scientifically robust estimate of this elusive big cat’s population in the state. Fancy that!
Now, while one might imagine spotting a snow leopard would require a touch of luck and perhaps a flask of something warm, this survey was far from a casual countryside jaunt. The Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DoEFCC) teamed up with the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) to deploy some cutting-edge technology and extensive camera traps, which, it turns out, are much better at catching the cats on film than your average tourist with a shaky hand.
From June 2021 to December of the same year, fieldworkers with more tenacity than your average nature enthusiast tramped across 115 locations, risking life, limb, and no doubt a fair amount of Lukter and Momos, to capture images of these majestic felines. As Minister Lowang put it, before this venture, no one had a scooby how many snow leopards were lurking about in Arunachal Pradesh, despite the state boasting a whopping 15,000 square kilometres of potential snow leopard real estate.
Now, for anyone under the misapprehension that this was a walk in the park, think again. Arunachal Pradesh’s terrain is so rugged that even the snow leopards themselves probably struggle to navigate it without a map and compass. The research team faced difficulties that would make most of us think twice before even setting foot outside the house, let alone into the wilderness. Add to that, interviews were conducted with herders and ex-hunters at 160 locations, no less, to suss out whether these elusive creatures had been spotted or merely whispered about in campfire tales. A solid 80% of those interviewed confirmed the presence of snow leopards, which is encouraging news for the conservationists but perhaps less so for the local wildlife being eyed by these top-tier predators.
However, not all is rosy for the snow leopard, known for its mystique and knack for staying out of sight. The report uncovered that while accidental killings and snaring pose significant threats in many districts, the situation is even more dire in places like West Kameng and Tawang, where the leopards are being bumped off in retaliation. You see, when snow leopards develop a taste for local livestock, it can lead to what one might politely call a “disagreement” between them and the local herders. And it’s not just the leopards on the receiving end of these conflicts – large-scale infrastructure and packs of free-ranging dogs also pose a threat to wildlife in these high-altitude havens. It’s a dog’s life, but not in the good sense.
For those not in the know, back in 2008, the government launched “Project Snow Leopard,” an initiative to protect the high-altitude wildlife populations through conservation policies that roped in the locals for a bit of teamwork. The snow leopards aren’t just any old predators – many of the tribes in Arunachal Pradesh consider them totemic symbols, a sort of spiritual VIP that you wouldn’t dream of harming, except under extreme provocation. This cultural respect is one reason hunting the snow leopards is a no-go for many.
All in all, it’s been quite the adventure for the snow leopard and conservation crew alike. With 36 of these magnificent creatures now accounted for, Arunachal Pradesh can boast a slightly clearer picture of its high-altitude residents. But as any seasoned wildlife expert will tell you, there’s still a long way to go before we can truly ensure the safety of these “ghosts of the mountains.” Here’s hoping we don’t need a séance to count them next time.
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