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About the Snow Leopard — The Ghost of the Mountains
India’s most elusive big cat — a biomarker of Himalayan health
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) — “Ghost of the Mountains” · India: 718 individuals (SPAI 2024) · © Wikimedia Commons
💡 Why is the Snow Leopard called the “Ghost of the Mountains”?
The Snow Leopard is one of the most difficult animals on Earth to spot. Its spotted grey coat blends perfectly with rocky mountain terrain at 3,000–5,500 metres above sea level. It is solitary, crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), and inhabits some of the world’s most remote, rugged landscapes. Camera trap surveys have shown that even local herders who have lived in snow leopard range their entire lives rarely see one. When they do, it is considered a special omen. The ghost metaphor captures both its invisibility and its mystical significance to Himalayan cultures.
Snow Leopard — Key Facts
- Scientific name: Panthera uncia (also known as Uncia uncia in older classification)
- Common names: “Ghost of the Mountains” · Lama (Lisu dialect) · Lamaphu · Sheen-e She (Ladakhi) · Shan (another Ladakhi name)
- Habitat: Alpine and subalpine zones at elevations of 3,000–5,500 m above mean sea level — above the tree line in the trans-Himalayan region
- Diet: Bharal (Blue Sheep), Himalayan Tahr, Argali, Marmots, birds — a generalist predator. Prey availability is a critical conservation factor.
- One of India’s Five Big Cats — along with Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Indian Leopard, and Clouded Leopard
- State animal of Himachal Pradesh
- Mascot of Khelo India Winter Games 2024 — named ‘Sheen-e She’
- Global range: 12 countries across a range of ~1.8 million sq km in Central and South Asia
- India’s snow leopard range: ~1,20,000 sq km (mostly in Ladakh, J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh)
- Conservation breeding in India: Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling
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Snow leopards in India (SPAI 2024)
4,000–6,500
Global snow leopard population
12
Range countries globally
1,20,000
sq km of Indian range area
3,000–5,500
metres altitude range
70%
Potential range covered by SPAI
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IUCN, CITES & Legal Protection Status
Vulnerable — but given the highest legal protection
| Framework | Status / Classification | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| IUCN Red List | 🟡 Vulnerable (VU) | Downgraded from Endangered (EN) to Vulnerable in 2017, reflecting improved data. Still at high risk. |
| CITES | 📋 Appendix I | Commercial trade banned. Highest international protection under CITES. |
| Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) | 📋 Appendix I (since 1985) | Included as a migratory species requiring international cooperation for conservation. |
| Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (India) | 📖 Schedule I | Highest protection in India. Hunting punishable with 3–7 years imprisonment. No reduction in penalty. |
| MoEFCC Species Recovery Programme | 🔴 Listed among 21 critically important species | Despite being VU globally, India lists it for its Recovery Programme — reflecting its precarious Indian status. |
📌 UPSC Key Points on Status
UPSC often asks: “What is the IUCN status of the snow leopard?” — Answer: Vulnerable (VU). A common mistake is to say Endangered (EN) — it was EN but was downlisted to VU in 2017. Also note: Snow leopard is on the CMS Appendix I (since 1985) — this means it is recognized as a migratory species needing international cooperation, relevant because snow leopards cross borders between India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan.
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SPAI — Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India 2024
India’s first-ever scientific snow leopard census — released January 30, 2024
🔴 Current Affairs — SPAI Report Released January 30, 2024
- First-ever nationwide scientific census of snow leopards in India — ending decades of guesstimation
- Conducted by: Wildlife Institute of India (WII) as National Coordinator, with support from all range states/UTs and partners: Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), Mysuru and WWF-India
- Survey period: 2019 to 2023 | Report released: January 30, 2024 by MoEFCC at the National Board for Wildlife meeting
- Total estimated population: 718 snow leopards
- Area covered: ~1,20,000 sq km — approximately 70% of India’s potential snow leopard range
- SPAI 2.0 launched in Wildlife Week 2025 — the next cycle of assessment
State-wise Snow Leopard Distribution
SPAI Methodology — How Was the Census Done?
Step 1
Occupancy Mapping
Evaluated spatial distribution using sign surveys (scats, scrapes, tracks). Teams walked 13,450 km of transects.
Step 2
Camera Trap Census
Deployed camera traps at 1,971 locations generating ~1,80,000 trap-nights. Photographed 241 unique snow leopards.
Step 3
Statistical Modelling
Used occupancy models + stratified abundance estimation to extrapolate total population from photographed individuals.
Step 4
State-level Integration
All 6 range states/UTs contributed data. First time all states surveyed using a standardised national protocol.
💡 Why was this census so hard — and why it matters so much
Counting snow leopards is perhaps the hardest wildlife census in the world. Reasons: (1) Extreme terrain — survey teams worked at 3,000–5,500m altitude in some of the world’s harshest mountain environments. (2) Low density — snow leopards need huge home ranges (100–1,000 sq km per individual). (3) Elusive behaviour — truly earns the “ghost” nickname; camera traps can run for months without a sighting. (4) Trans-boundary challenge — most snow leopard habitat borders China, Pakistan, Nepal — requiring sensitive coordination. Before SPAI, India’s best estimate was 400–700 snow leopards based on 1980s data. The new figure of 718 provides a scientifically rigorous baseline for the first time — allowing India to measure future changes and assess the success of Project Snow Leopard.
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Project Snow Leopard (PSL)
India’s flagship programme for high-altitude wildlife conservation — since 2009
Project Snow Leopard (PSL) Launched 2009
MoEFCC · Landscape-based · Community participatory approach
Launched: 2009 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
Approach: Inclusive, participatory, and landscape-based — meaning it works WITH local communities rather than imposing top-down restrictions.
- States covered: Jammu & Kashmir (including Ladakh), Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh
- Key partners: Wildlife Institute of India (WII, Dehradun) and Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF, Mysuru)
- Focus: Landscape-based management planning, habitat restoration, livelihoods improvement for local communities, mitigation of human-wildlife conflict, anti-poaching, awareness
- Flagship species designation: Government of India has identified the snow leopard as the flagship species for India’s high-altitude Himalayan ecosystem — if the snow leopard thrives, the entire mountain ecosystem is healthy
- Target species beyond snow leopards: Also covers Asiatic Ibex, Tibetan Argali, Ladakh Urial, Chiru (Tibetan Antelope), Takin, Serow, Musk Deer — a complete ecosystem approach
- Core vs larger landscape: Identifies core zones (high conservation value) while ensuring sustainable development in surrounding landscapes — similar to Biosphere Reserve logic
- Snow leopard is listed among India’s 21 critically important species for the MoEFCC’s Species Recovery Programme
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Three GSLEP Conservation Landscapes in India
India’s identified priority areas for snow leopard conservation
🎯 Why Three Landscapes?
Snow leopards need vast landscapes — a single snow leopard requires 100–1,000 sq km of territory. Individual protected areas are too small. India identified three large, connected landscape mosaics — each covering multiple states and spanning both protected areas and unprotected lands — as the priority areas where integrated conservation action can have the most impact. These are India’s contribution to the GSLEP “Secure 20” global goal.
Landscape 1: Hemis-Spiti
Ladakh + Himachal Pradesh
- Hemis NP (Ladakh) — world’s second largest protected area in a contiguous national park; has some of the highest snow leopard density in India (~2 per 100 sq km)
- Kibber WLS (Spiti, HP) — high-altitude cold desert wildlife sanctuary
- Pin Valley NP (HP) — trans-Himalayan cold desert
- Connects Ladakh’s core snow leopard population with HP’s Spiti Valley
- Home to Changthang WLS (Ladakh) — Tibetan antelope (Chiru), wild yak, kiang (Tibetan wild ass)
Landscape 2: Nanda Devi–Gangotri
Uttarakhand
- Nanda Devi NP — UNESCO WHS; Nanda Devi BR (UNESCO MAB); 2nd highest peak in India (7,816m)
- Gangotri NP — source of the Ganga river; high-altitude glacial landscape
- Valley of Flowers NP — UNESCO WHS; famous for alpine meadows; within Nanda Devi BR
- 124 snow leopards in Uttarakhand — 2nd highest in India after Ladakh
- This is the most southern extent of snow leopard range in India
Landscape 3: Khangchendzonga–Tawang
Sikkim + Arunachal Pradesh
- Khangchendzonga NP (Sikkim) — UNESCO WHS (Mixed); UNESCO MAB BR; home to 21 snow leopards
- Tawang region (Arunachal Pradesh) — eastern Himalayan snow leopard habitat; 36 individuals
- Connects India’s snow leopard population with Bhutan and China (Tibet)
- Ecologically significant: snow leopards from this landscape are genetically connected to Bhutanese and Tibetan populations
- The Khangchendzonga BR covers 21,300 sq km — one of three Indian BRs in the snow leopard landscape
🎯 Three Biosphere Reserves Protecting Snow Leopard Habitat
- Cold Desert BR (Himachal Pradesh) — 7,770 sq km; inducted into UNESCO World Network of BRs; covers Spiti, Pin, and Khangchendzonga watershed
- Nanda Devi BR (Uttarakhand) — UNESCO WHS; source of rivers; includes Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers NPs
- Khangchendzonga BR (Sikkim) — UNESCO MAB; Mixed WHS; eastern Himalayan snow leopard stronghold
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GSLEP — Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Programme Current Affairs
The Bishkek Declaration 2013 — 12 countries unite for snow leopards
Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP) Est. 2013
Bishkek Declaration · All 12 range countries · Secretariat: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Launched by the Bishkek Declaration — signed by all 12 snow leopard range countries in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on October 23, 2013
- A high-level inter-governmental alliance using snow leopard conservation as a flagship for high-mountain sustainable development
- India has been a GSLEP member since 2013
- Secretariat: Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
- “Secure 20 by 2020” goal: Protect at least 20 healthy snow leopard populations (with >100 breeding-age individuals each) across the 12 range countries by 2020
- International Snow Leopard Day: October 23 — commemorating the Bishkek Declaration (observed since 2014)
- PAWS — Population Assessment of the World’s Snow Leopards: GSLEP initiative to develop a global assessment (India’s SPAI is India’s contribution to PAWS)
- Latest: GSLEP Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting hosted in Bishkek, June 2025 — India’s Environment Minister participated
- Connected to COP28 (2023) and COP29 (2024) — climate-biodiversity nexus for mountain ecosystems; snow leopard as indicator of climate change impacts
12 Snow Leopard Range Countries
🌍 All 12 countries party to the Bishkek Declaration and GSLEP:
🇮🇳 India
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
🇧🇹 Bhutan
🇨🇳 China
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
🇲🇳 Mongolia
🇳🇵 Nepal
🇵🇰 Pakistan
🇷🇺 Russia
🇹🇯 Tajikistan
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
⭐ GSLEP — UPSC Must-Know
- GSLEP established by: Bishkek Declaration, 2013
- 12 range countries — Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
- India joined GSLEP: 2013
- Secretariat: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- International Snow Leopard Day: October 23 (since 2014)
- “Secure 20 by 2020” = protect 20 healthy snow leopard populations
- India’s three GSLEP landscapes: Hemis-Spiti · Nanda Devi–Gangotri · Khangchendzonga–Tawang
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All Conservation Programmes & Initiatives
HimalSanrakshak · SECURE Himalaya · IBCA · National Protocol
HimalSanrakshak — Community Volunteer Programme Launched Oct 2020
MoEFCC · Community-based conservation · Human-wildlife harmony
- Launched on International Snow Leopard Day, October 23, 2020 by MoEFCC
- A community volunteer programme that engages local Himalayan communities as frontline guardians of snow leopard habitat
- Local people who live in snow leopard range are trained as volunteers to monitor wildlife, report poaching, and reduce human-wildlife conflict
- Addresses the most direct threat: retaliatory killing by herders whose livestock is attacked by snow leopards
- Creates a sense of ownership and pride among local communities — shifting perception from “snow leopard as threat” to “snow leopard as asset”
- Also supports eco-tourism development — giving communities economic incentives to protect (not kill) snow leopards
SECURE Himalaya GEF + UNDP Funded
Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems
- Funded by: Global Environment Facility (GEF) + United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Full title: “Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems”
- Focus: Conserving high-altitude biodiversity AND reducing local communities’ dependence on natural ecosystems for survival (reducing grazing pressure, illegal logging, etc.)
- Implemented across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim
- Addresses the root cause: poverty-driven resource extraction in snow leopard habitat
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Launched April 2023
PM Modi · 7 Big Cats · 97 range countries · Mysuru HQ
- Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 April 2023 — on the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger
- Covers conservation of 7 big cats globally: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma
- Open to 97 range countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas
- Headquarters: Mysuru, Karnataka, India
- India’s initiative to be the global leader in big cat conservation — building on Project Tiger success
- Connected to GSLEP for snow leopard, and to Global Tiger Initiative for tigers
First National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment (2019)
MoEFCC · WII · NCF · Standardised survey protocol
- India’s first standardised national protocol for snow leopard population assessment — launched in 2019
- This protocol guided the SPAI exercise (2019–2023) — ensuring consistent methodology across all 6 range states
- Two-step framework: (1) Occupancy mapping + sign surveys, (2) Camera trap abundance estimation
- SPAI 2.0 (launched 2025) follows this same protocol — allowing comparison across time periods
- Periodic estimation recommended every 4 years
Snow Leopard Cell at WII (Proposed)
Recommended by SPAI Report 2024
- The SPAI 2024 report recommended establishing a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at WII under MoEFCC
- Purpose: Focus on long-term population monitoring, data management, policy support
- Similar to the system that exists for tigers under NTCA
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Threats to Snow Leopards
What is pushing this ghost towards the edge
Infrastructure Development
Roads, highways, hydroelectric projects, military infrastructure in border Himalayan regions (for national security). A huge portion of snow leopard habitat is in strategic border areas. Linear infrastructure fragments habitat and increases human presence.
Climate Change
Rising temperatures are shifting the snowline upward — literally shrinking the snow leopard’s cold habitat. Their prey (bharal, argali) also shift, forcing snow leopards into conflict with humans at lower altitudes. Glacier retreat affects water availability. Climate change is the most existential long-term threat.
Retaliatory Killing
Snow leopards attack livestock — especially in winter when natural prey is scarce. Herders who lose animals sometimes kill snow leopards in retaliation. This was previously a major cause of decline. HimalSanrakshak and community programmes aim to reduce this.
Poaching for Illegal Trade
Snow leopard fur, bones, and body parts are trafficked for the traditional medicine market and luxury fur trade. Despite CITES Appendix I listing and WPA Schedule I protection, poaching continues — especially across porous trans-Himalayan borders. Operation Snow Leopard (anti-poaching) runs periodically.
Prey Depletion
Overgrazing by domestic livestock competes with bharal and argali (snow leopard’s natural prey) for alpine pastures. As wild prey decreases, snow leopards turn to livestock — triggering retaliatory killing. Prey depletion is a key driver of the human-snow leopard conflict cycle.
Free-ranging Dogs
Surprisingly, free-ranging domestic and feral dogs are a significant and growing threat — particularly in Ladakh. Dogs chase and kill snow leopard cubs, compete for prey, and spread diseases (canine distemper) to snow leopards. As tourism and human presence grows, dog populations increase.
💡 The Unique Security-Conservation Tension
A significant portion of India’s snow leopard habitat lies in border areas (Ladakh borders China and Pakistan). Much infrastructure development in these areas is done under national security mandates — roads, military posts, border fencing. The SPAI report specifically recommended sensitising Indian border security forces (ITBP, Army) stationed in these regions — fostering long-term cooperation for conservation alongside national security. This is a unique challenge that no other large cat in India faces at this scale.
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Quick Reference — All Programmes
Everything at a glance for UPSC revision
| Programme | Year | Launched by | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Snow Leopard (PSL) | 2009 | MoEFCC, India | Landscape-based, community participatory; 5 states; WII + NCF; flagship species approach |
| GSLEP (Global SL & Ecosystem Protection) | 2013 (Bishkek Declaration) | 12 range countries | October 23 = Intl. Snow Leopard Day; Secretariat Bishkek; “Secure 20” goal |
| HimalSanrakshak | Oct 23, 2020 | MoEFCC, India | Community volunteer programme; reduces retaliatory killing; promotes eco-tourism |
| SECURE Himalaya | Ongoing | GEF + UNDP | Conserving high-altitude biodiversity; reducing community dependence on nature |
| National Protocol on SPAI | 2019 | MoEFCC / WII | Standardised survey methodology; guided SPAI census |
| SPAI (Snow Leopard Pop. Assessment India) | 2019–2023 (released Jan 2024) | WII + NCF + WWF-India | First scientific census; 718 snow leopards; 70% range covered; 241 unique SLs photographed |
| SPAI 2.0 | Launched Wildlife Week 2025 | MoEFCC | Second cycle; periodic 4-yearly assessment; continued monitoring |
| International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) | April 9, 2023 | PM Modi, India | 7 big cats; 97 range countries; HQ Mysuru; India’s global big cat leadership |
| Conservation Breeding (ex situ) | Ongoing | State Zoo Authority | Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling |
⭐ Snow Leopard — The Complete UPSC Must-Know Checklist
- Scientific name: Panthera uncia | Nickname: “Ghost of the Mountains”
- IUCN: Vulnerable (VU) — downgraded from EN in 2017
- CITES: Appendix I | WPA: Schedule I | CMS: Appendix I
- India population (SPAI 2024): 718 — Ladakh (477) highest
- Project Snow Leopard: 2009 | GSLEP: 2013 (Bishkek Declaration)
- Intl. Snow Leopard Day: October 23 (since 2014)
- 3 landscapes: Hemis-Spiti · Nanda Devi–Gangotri · Khangchendzonga–Tawang
- HimalSanrakshak: Oct 23, 2020 | SPAI 2.0: 2025
- State animal of: Himachal Pradesh
- Conservation breeding: Padmaja Naidu HZP, Darjeeling
- India is one of 12 GSLEP range countries
- IBCA (all 7 big cats): April 9, 2023 | HQ: Mysuru
- Mascot of Khelo India Winter Games 2024 = Sheen-e She
🧪 Practice MCQs — Test Yourself
Q1. Consider the following statements about the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI):
1. SPAI was the first-ever scientific census of snow leopards in India.
2. The total estimated snow leopard population in India is 718 individuals.
3. Ladakh has the highest snow leopard population — approximately 477 individuals.
4. SPAI was conducted and coordinated by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
Which of the above are CORRECT?
✅ Answer: (c) — 1, 2 and 3 only
1 ✅: SPAI (conducted 2019–2023, released January 30, 2024) was indeed the first systematic, scientific assessment of India’s snow leopard population — ending decades of unreliable estimates from the 1980s. 2 ✅: Total: 718 snow leopards estimated in India. 3 ✅: Ladakh = 477 (66.4% of India’s total) — by far the highest. Followed by Uttarakhand (124). 4 ❌ Wrong: SPAI was coordinated by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun — NOT WCCB. WCCB deals with wildlife crime enforcement, not population assessment. SPAI partners: WII (national coordinator) + NCF Mysuru + WWF-India + all 6 range states/UTs.
Q2. Project Snow Leopard was launched in India in which year, and by which ministry?
✅ Answer: (b) 2009 — MoEFCC
Project Snow Leopard (PSL) was launched in 2009 by India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It promotes an inclusive, participatory, and landscape-based approach — working with local Himalayan communities. It is implemented in 5 range states (J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF, Mysuru). The snow leopard is the flagship species for India’s high-altitude Himalayan ecosystem — part of MoEFCC’s 21 critically important species recovery programme.
Q3. Consider the following about the Bishkek Declaration and GSLEP:
1. The Bishkek Declaration was signed by 12 snow leopard range countries in 2013.
2. GSLEP aims to protect at least 20 healthy snow leopard populations globally.
3. October 23 is observed as International Snow Leopard Day since 2014.
4. India has NOT been part of GSLEP since it believes conservation should be a domestic matter.
Which are CORRECT?
✅ Answer: (c) — 1, 2 and 3 only
1 ✅: Bishkek Declaration = signed by all 12 range countries on October 23, 2013 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 2 ✅: “Secure 20 by 2020” = protect at least 20 healthy snow leopard populations (each with >100 breeding-age individuals) across the 12 range countries. 3 ✅: International Snow Leopard Day = October 23, observed since 2014 to commemorate the Bishkek Declaration anniversary. 4 ❌ Wrong: India IS a GSLEP member since 2013. India has also hosted the 4th GSLEP Steering Committee in New Delhi (2019) and India’s Environment Minister participated in the 2025 Bishkek Ministerial meeting.
Q4. Which of the following correctly lists India’s three GSLEP snow leopard conservation landscapes?
✅ Answer: (b)
India identified exactly three GSLEP landscapes for snow leopard conservation: (1) Hemis-Spiti — across Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh (Hemis NP + Pin Valley NP + Kibber WLS area). (2) Nanda Devi–Gangotri — Uttarakhand (Nanda Devi BR + Gangotri NP). (3) Khangchendzonga–Tawang — across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. These are trans-boundary landscape mosaics, not single PAs. Other options include areas outside snow leopard range (Bandipur = tiger country; Sundarbans = mangrove; Corbett = terai; Manas = terai).
Q5. HimalSanrakshak, launched on International Snow Leopard Day 2020, is best described as:
✅ Answer: (c)
HimalSanrakshak is a community volunteer programme launched by MoEFCC on October 23, 2020 (International Snow Leopard Day). It engages local Himalayan communities — herders, village leaders, traditional knowledge holders — as frontline guardians and monitors of snow leopard habitat. The programme addresses the root cause of retaliatory killing: by giving communities a stake in snow leopard survival (through monitoring roles, eco-tourism income, livestock insurance), it turns the relationship from conflict to coexistence. It is not a survey programme (that’s SPAI), not satellite-based, and not an international treaty.
Q6. The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), launched by India in 2023, aims to conserve which of the following seven big cats?
✅ Answer: (b) — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was launched by PM Modi on April 9, 2023 (50th anniversary of Project Tiger). The seven big cats it covers: Tiger (Project Tiger India flagship), Lion (Asiatic Lion, Gir), Leopard (Indian Leopard), Snow Leopard (Himalayan), Cheetah (reintroduced to India 2022 at Kuno NP), Jaguar (Americas), and Puma (Americas). Note: The Clouded Leopard is NOT in the IBCA 7 — it is a separate genus (Neofelis) and not typically called a “big cat.” IBCA HQ: Mysuru, Karnataka. Open to 97 range countries.
📜 UPSC Prelims PYQs — Official Past Questions
Consider the following:
1. Snow Leopard
2. Chiru
3. Wild Yak
Which of the above is/are found in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary?
✅ Official Answer: (d) All three
Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (Ladakh) is India’s largest wildlife sanctuary — located in the Changthang plateau region bordering China (Tibet). Altitude: 4,000–5,500m. Home to all three: 1 ✅ Snow Leopard — top predator; Ladakh has 477 (SPAI 2024). 2 ✅ Chiru (Tibetan Antelope) — Critically Endangered; also called Tibetan Antelope; source of Shahtoosh wool (illegal); significant in Changthang. 3 ✅ Wild Yak — Vulnerable IUCN; the world’s wild cousin of the domestic yak; found in high-altitude cold deserts of Changthang and Tibet. Other species here: Kiang (Tibetan Wild Ass), Tibetan Argali (largest mountain sheep), Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Sand Fox.
The term ‘Aichi Biodiversity Targets’ is related to which of the following?
✅ Official Answer: (c) CBD
The Aichi Biodiversity Targets were the 20 biodiversity targets for 2020 adopted at CBD COP10 in Nagoya, Japan in 2010. Relevant here because Target 12 (of Aichi) specifically focused on preventing extinction of known threatened species — including snow leopards. All 20 Aichi targets were missed by 2020, which led to the Kunming-Montreal GBF (2022) with stronger targets. Snow leopard conservation connects to multiple Aichi targets: habitat protection (T11), preventing extinction (T12), sustainable use (T6), ABS (T16).
In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what does it mean?
✅ Official Answer: (b) Same protection as Snow Leopard and Great Indian Bustard
This question directly connects Schedule I (WPA) with the Snow Leopard. If any species is in WPA Schedule I, it receives the highest level of protection under Indian law — including the same protection as the Snow Leopard (Schedule I) and Great Indian Bustard (Schedule I). Penalties: imprisonment of 3–7 years + fine, with no reduction possible for Schedule I species. Option (a) is wrong — forests are protected under Forest Conservation Act and Indian Forest Act, separate from WPA. Option (c) is about CITES Appendix I (different system entirely from WPA). The correct linkage is: WPA Schedule I species ↔ Snow Leopard + Great Indian Bustard = same level of domestic protection.
Which of the following National Parks lie in the Himalayan region?
1. Corbett National Park
2. Valley of Flowers National Park
3. Nanda Devi National Park
4. Hemis National Park
Select the correct answer:
✅ Official Answer: (d) All four
All four are in the Himalayan region: 1 ✅ Corbett NP — Uttarakhand (Shivalik foothills/outer Himalayas); India’s first NP (1936). Tiger reserve. 2 ✅ Valley of Flowers NP — Uttarakhand; UNESCO WHS; within Nanda Devi BR; famous alpine meadows; snow leopard range (part of Nanda Devi–Gangotri landscape). 3 ✅ Nanda Devi NP — Uttarakhand; UNESCO WHS; inside Nanda Devi BR; India’s 2nd highest peak (7,816m). Snow leopard presence confirmed. 4 ✅ Hemis NP — Ladakh; arguably the world’s second largest protected area in a contiguous national park; highest snow leopard density in India (~2 per 100 sq km). Part of Hemis-Spiti snow leopard landscape.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The 2017 downlisting from Endangered (EN) to Vulnerable (VU) was NOT primarily because snow leopard numbers increased — it was mainly because better data and improved scientific methodology allowed more accurate population estimates. The previous Endangered listing was based on older, less rigorous data that likely underestimated the global population. With more systematic surveys across all 12 range countries, the global population was estimated at 4,000–6,500 — above the Endangered threshold. However, this does NOT mean the snow leopard is safe: threats (climate change, habitat loss, retaliatory killing, poaching) continue to grow. India’s own MoEFCC still lists the snow leopard in its 21 critically important species recovery programme — recognizing that despite the global VU status, the Indian population needs intensive conservation attention.
A flagship species is one that captures public attention and serves as a symbol for broader conservation — like how Project Tiger uses tigers to protect entire forests. The snow leopard is the perfect Himalayan flagship for three reasons: (1) Umbrella species: Protecting snow leopard habitat protects the entire high-altitude ecosystem — including bharal, argali, pika, yak, and rare alpine plants. (2) Indicator species: Snow leopard presence (or absence) reflects the overall health of the Himalayan mountain ecosystem. If snow leopards thrive, the ecosystem is intact. If they disappear, it signals ecosystem collapse. (3) Cultural ambassador: The snow leopard holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Himalayan communities — including Ladakhi, Tibetan, and Nepali cultures — making it a powerful symbol for conservation awareness. (4) Climate sentinel: As the snow leopard’s habitat is directly affected by climate change (rising snowlines, glacier retreat), protecting snow leopards simultaneously addresses climate resilience for the entire Hindu Kush-Himalayan water tower — which feeds 10 major rivers providing water to 1.5 billion people.
Project Snow Leopard (PSL) is India’s domestic government programme — launched in 2009 by MoEFCC. It is a national-level initiative focusing on conservation within India: landscape management, community participation, habitat restoration, anti-poaching. GSLEP (Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme) is the international initiative — launched by the Bishkek Declaration in 2013, involving all 12 snow leopard range countries (India, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan). GSLEP coordinates transboundary conservation — because snow leopards move across borders. India’s PSL aligned with GSLEP goals (India identified its 3 GSLEP landscapes). Think of it as: PSL = India’s contribution | GSLEP = the global framework that India’s PSL feeds into.
No — Rajasthan does NOT have snow leopards. Rajasthan is a desert state at low altitude — completely outside snow leopard range. This is a common UPSC question trap. India’s snow leopard states/UTs are: Ladakh (477 — largest population), Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu & Kashmir (9). Snow leopards are found at altitudes of 3,000–5,500 metres — only in the high Himalayan and trans-Himalayan regions. States like Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra are definitively NOT snow leopard states. A good trick: Snow leopard = HIMALAYAN + HIGH ALTITUDE + COLD DESERT. If a state doesn’t have high Himalayas, no snow leopards.
SECURE Himalaya (full title: “Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems”) is a project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), implemented in India’s snow leopard range states (Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim). It addresses snow leopard conservation indirectly by tackling the root causes of habitat degradation: local communities in snow leopard landscapes depend on natural resources for survival — overgrazing, fuelwood collection, and hunting pressure all reduce snow leopard habitat quality and prey availability. SECURE Himalaya works on alternative livelihoods (craft, eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture), reducing dependence on natural ecosystems. The logic: if communities have alternative income, they graze less intensively, remove less fuelwood, and have less incentive to poach or retaliate against snow leopards. It’s conservation through economic development — the “human security = wildlife security” approach.
Legacy IAS — UPSC Civil Services Coaching, Bangalore |
Content prepared exclusively for UPSC aspirants. All data updated to SPAI 2024 (released January 30, 2024) and SPAI 2.0 launch (2025). HP state update (86 snow leopards, October 2025) also included. GSLEP data updated to June 2025 Ministerial meeting.
