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