Project Snow Leopard
27/03/2007 00:00:00
Snow leopard facts.
- The estimated world population of Snow Leopards in the world is 3,500-7,000, out of which about 500 cats are found across the Indian States of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
- The Snow Leopard is found in twelve countries.
- The Snow leopard has a potential range of about 1.5 to 2.0 million square kilometres, however the actual area where Snow leopards are found is very fragmented.
- Decline in wild prey populations, poaching for skin and body parts, and retaliatory killings to prevent livestock killing are the main threats to the conservation of Snow Leopard in India.
- About 600-700 Snow Leopards are reported to be in the zoos around the world.
The Indian government has launched 'Project Snow Leopard' along the lines of 'Project Tiger' in an effort to preserve these fantastic cats. Inaugurating a National Workshop about Snow leopards at Leh, Ladakh Environment and Forest Minister Thiru A. Raja said field research on the Snow Leopard by research institutions and organizations in the last two decades has provided the much-needed information on ecology, habitat use, food habits, behaviour, movement and ranging patterns.
It is now the appropriate time to launch specific measures for its effective conservation. The Minister gave assurances that he would consider all recommendations and resolutions that arise from the workshop.
The Snow Leopard or Shan (in Ladakhi) is one of the most beautiful cats of the world and is recognized as the ‘king of the snow-capped mountains’ of the Himalaya and Central Asia. It is one of the world’s most elusive, rare and endangered predators. For centuries, it has been an integral part of the life and culture of the people of Ladakh and other high Himalayan regions of India. Aptly named, this elusive and shy predator is perfectly adapted to live in snow-covered high-altitude regions of the Himalaya and mountains of Central Asia.
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This shy and less known species finally got some attention. Join this group to boost this project : relivearth.com/groups/snow-leopard/
Posted by: Relivearth | 23 Jan 2011 06:31:37