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Snow Leopard: Kyrgyzstan Declared A National Symbol

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 09-01-2024
Snow Leopard: Kyrgyzstan Declared A National Symbol Art & Culture 4 min read

Kyrgyzstan officially declared the snow leopard its national symbol, demonstrating its commitment to conservation and ecological balance.

  • Kyrgyzstan's President 'Sadyr Japarov' signed a decree on December 30, 2023.
  • The snow leopard is historically significant in Kyrgyz culture, appearing in the story of the Kyrgyz folk hero Manas, revered as a symbol of greatness, courage and resilience.

About Snow Leopard:

  • Scientific name: Panthera uncia
  • It is called the 'ghost of the mountains'.

Accommodation:

  • Mountainous regions of Central and Southern Asia.
  • Number of countries with snow leopard range (12) – Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

Snow Leopard Habitat in India:

  • Western Himalayas – Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh
  • Eastern Himalayas – Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh

Conservation status:

  • IUCN Red List - Vulnerable
  • ‘Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’ (CITES): Listed in Appendix-I.
  • Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 - Schedule-I

Major locations of snow leopard in India:

  • Hemis National Park, Ladakh (known as the 'global capital of snow leopards')
  • Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
  • Gangotri National Park, Uttarakhand
  • Kanchenjunga National Park, Sikkim

Conservation efforts on a global scale:

Snow Leopard Trust -

  • An organization working to protect snow leopards and their habitat through community-based conservation programs.

Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) -

  • GSLEP was formed in 2013.
  • GSLEP is the first inter-governmental alliance to conserve the snow leopard and its unique ecosystem.

Conservation Efforts in India:

Project Snow Leopard-

  • Launched by the Government of India in 2009, it focuses on conserving the snow leopard and its high-altitude ecosystems.

Snow Leopard Conservation Breeding Program -

  • It was started in Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, West Bengal.

Himal Patron -

  • It is a community volunteer program launched in October 2020 to protect snow leopards.

Global and Indian population of snow leopards:

  • Global estimates suggest that there are 4 thousand to 6.5 thousand snow leopards worldwide.
  • The number of snow leopards is highest in China.
  • In India, the snow leopard population is estimated to be around 700-800.
  • State Animal: Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh

About Kyrgyzstan:

  • It is a country in Central Asia.
  • Capital – Bishkek
  • Currency - Som
  • President – Sadyr Japarov

FAQ

Ans. Kyrgyzstan

Ans. Panthera uncia

Ans. Hemis National Park, Ladakh

Ans. Year 2009

Ans. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, West Bengal
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