Shimla, Jun 23
Project Snow Leopard(SPL) has estimated as many as 54 snow Leopards in the 10 areas of Himachal Pradesh as the project is likely to census more such highly elusive wild cats by its ending next year, stated a senior officer of Himachal Pradesh Forest & Wild life Department.
Principal Chief conservator of forest (Wildlife) Himachal Pradesh, Dr Savita stated that PSL in the report submitted that by Mar 31, 2020 there are as many as 54 snow leopards have been estimated at 155 spots in the ten area of the state.
The project is likely to submit its completion report by Mar 31 ,2021 wherein more revelations are likely about the snow leopards as they prey in a vast landscape in the North Western Himalayan ranges of the state.
She said that the project in the state by is being done by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) Mysore and state wildlife authority aimed to conduct census and study on the snow leopard, supporting wildlife, habitat and its conservation etc.
Himachal has about 50 percent of 22 project area spanned in 27,846 square km area. She said the PSL is spread in the five Himalayan states including HP J&K, Uttranchal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and over 1, 28,757 sq km.
In the state Project Snow Leopard (above 3000 m) includes Lahaul, Spiti, Pangi, Kinnaur, Upper Chamba (especially Bharmour), Upper Kangra (Bara Bhangal), Upper Kullu (Mantalai, Pin Parvati, upper Great Himalayan NP, upper Manali), and Upper Simla (Rupi Bhabha, Dodra Kwar) areas.
She informed that the department rescued a snow leopard cub (six to eight month) on May 2, 2020 as it was found trapped inside a livestock pan in Village Giu of Spiti valley. The cub required immediate rescue as it was astrayed and was exhausted and therefore was rushed to wild animal rehabilitation centre from Spiti to Himalayan nature park Kufri, she added. After fully recovering the cub was again released on May 18 to the wild near the same location at Giu village where it was found trapped.
”Before releasing the cub in the wild again we have ensured to track its mother by putting the surveillance cameras in the area for two days. As it was located by the state wildlife authority the cub was released near its mother to ensure their successful reunion again. ” She added.
