The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Program is the first-ever scientific exercise that reports Snow leopard population of 718 individuals in India. It is an initiative of the the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Coordinating agency The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is the National Coordinator for SPAI that was carried out with support the support of all snow leopard range states and two conservation partners, the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru and WWF-India. Overview of SPAI In 2019, launched the 'Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI)' program, as part of India's active participation in the National and Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (NSLEP & GSLEP). India has contributed in three significant landscapes to NSLEP & GSLEP, viz. Hemis-Spiti, Nanda Devi-Gangotri, and Khangchendzonga Tawang. Alongside twelve National Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Priorities (NSLEPs), these efforts are aimed at conserving snow leopard and its habitats. The SPAI is anticipated to lead to scientifically robust national and state-wise population estimates of the snow leopard across the high-altitude habitats both inside and outside protected areas. Its overarching goal is to gather reliable data to guide effective conservation efforts and policy decisions. Based on the consultations with the Chief Wildlife Wardens (CWLWs) of the states and UTs the SPAI sampling exercise was effectively executed across the Union Territories of Ladakh and J & K, and four snow leopard range states viz. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The SPAI exercise was conducted from 2019 to 2023 following a two-step framework. Within this, the STEP-1 involved a meticulous evaluation of snow leopard spatial distribution, incorporating habitat covariates into the analysis. This approach, founded on occupancy modeling, relied on data sourced from sign and interview surveys, comprehensive fieldwork, and precise geospatial mapping. This assessment culminated in the refinement of the snow leopard distribution map and the establishment of a foundational dataset for the stratification of snow leopard population sampling. In the STEP-II, snow leopard abundance estimation was achieved through camera trapping. Furthermore, comprehensive abundance assessments were conducted for the primary prey species at selected sites. Snow leopard range was undefined until recent years due to lack of extensive country wide assessment for this vulnerable felid species. Till 2016, a substantial third of the snow leopard range (spanning ca. 100,347 km²) had not received research attention, which was reduced to just 5%, mainly in small pockets of Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. However, status surveys in the recent years have increased the understanding on preliminary information about snow leopard or prey is available for 80% of the snow leopard range (ca. 79,745 km²), compared to 56% in 2016. To provide robust information on the snow leopard numbers, the SPAI exercise involved surveying the snow leopard habitats using a substantial network of camera traps. Status of Snow leopards in India During the SPAI exercise, total efforts included: 13,450 km of trails surveyed for recording Snow leopard signs, while camera traps were deployed at 1,971 locations for 180,000 trap nights. The Snow leopard occupancy was recorded in 93,392 km2, with an estimated presence in 100,841 km2. A total of 241 unique Snow leopards were photographed. Based on data analysis, the estimated population in different states are as follows: Ladakh (477), Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9). Overall, a total of 126 unique snow leopard individuals were identified from the Union Territory of Ladakh, across a total of 956 camera trap locations, yielding an estimated density of 0.34 individuals/100 km' and a population of 477 individuals. The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, on the other hand led to detection of 9 unique Individuals across the snow leopard range in this UT with 135 camera trap locations. The estimated density was was 0.75 individuals/100 km² and population of 9 individuals. For the snow leopard range states, Himachal Pradesh recorded a total of 44 unique Individuals identified across 284 camera trap locations. The density of snow leopard in the state ranged from 0.08 to 0.37 individuals/100 km². The exercise was indicative of a mean population size of 51 individuals of snow leopard in Himachal Pradesh. The state of Uttarakhand recorded a total of 40 unique individuals, with a density ranging from 0.7 to 1.04 individuals/100 km. The population estimates of snow leopard in Uttarakhand was 124. In the eastern Himalayan states, Sikkim, with a total of 99 camera trap locations, recorded a total of 14 unique individuals with an estimated density of 0.40 snow leopards/100 km². The estimate was 21 snow leopards for this state. On the other hand, in Arunachal Pradesh, 8 unique snow leopards were dentified across 115 camera trap locations. The density was 0.26 individuals/100 km and the population was estimated as 36 individuals in the state. To access the complete report, click here.