90 snow leopards recorded in Upper Dolpa

Kathmandu, Apr. 13:The sighting of at least 90 snow leopards in the Upper Dolpa region of Shey Phoksundo National Park area in Dolpa district shows a significant achievement of conservation efforts in Nepal.

The snow leopard (Panthera uncial), considered endangered in Nepal is an elusive and solitary animal, and it is challenging to study and monitor this wild cat.  Sighting of such a large number of snow leopards indicates that the habitat is suitable for these magnificent wild cats, said Bishwo Babu Shrestha, Chief Conservation Officer at Shey Phoksundo National Park. 

"The record of such species in a good number within Upper Dolpa is a conservation success for the country," said Shrestha. In 2019, a total of 319 automatic censored cameras were installed in the Upper Dolpa area, known for its high density of snow leopards, to survey the population of this rare species. The results revealed in 2024, showed that 90 individuals were captured in the specified area.

Shrestha explained that those cameras were installed within an eight by eight kilometres grid, creating seven grid cells covering a total area of 4800 square kilometres. 

“There could be more than 90 individuals if we were able to install more cameras, but with limited us of technology, we were able to cover only a limited area. We could not cover the entire national park,” he said.

According to Shrestha, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) conducted the first-ever snow leopard survey in 2009 using camera traps and other modern techniques. The estimated data ranged from 110 to 130 individuals in the initial survey, he informed.

The cameras used to capture snow leopards in 2019 were equipped with the latest technology. All the cameras were installed at a height of two feet, considering the height of snow leopards. In addition, the cameras were positioned on both sides of a tree to capture photographs from both angles of the animal. This setup makes it easier to identify duplicate sightings of the same individual, he said.

Shrestha said that three to four cameras were stolen from the survey area. "If they had not been stolen, there might have been more individuals captured in the trapping," he said. The presence of a good number of snow leopards in the area indicates a healthy population of prey species. The prey species for snow leopards include blue sheep (naur), Himalayan tahr (ghoral) and marmots (jhoral).

Snow leopard, which is found 2500 metres above sea level, is a symbol of the rugged beauty of the high mountains and plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of its habitat. 

Protecting this magnificent species is crucial for the health of the fragile mountain ecosystems, the habitat of snow leopards.