KATHMANDU: Nepal is home to around 397 snow leopards, according to the latest data released by WWF Nepal. These endangered big cats inhabit roughly 30,500 square kilometers of Nepal’s Himalayan terrain.
While the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates Nepal’s share at about 2% of the global population, WWF Nepal suggests the country supports nearly 10% of the known individual snow leopards, based on the most up-to-date estimates from the US-based Snow Leopard Trust. Globally, the species is believed to number between 3,200 and 5,390, spread across 12 countries, including Nepal, China, India, Mongolia, and Bhutan.
The updated figures come from extensive research conducted between 2015 and 2024, using a combination of camera traps, genetic sampling, and habitat modeling. The study was led by Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, in collaboration with WWF Nepal and other conservation partners.
WWF Nepal’s Mountain Program Manager Sarin Shrestha reported that China has the largest snow leopard population, estimated at 2,000 to 2,500, followed by Mongolia (953), India (718), Nepal (397), and Bhutan (134). In Nepal, the snow leopard’s presence is most concentrated in the western Himalayas, with around 90 individuals identified in the Dolpa region alone.
Mounting Threats to a Fragile Species
Snow leopards are typically found at altitudes between 2,540 and 5,000 meters and are considered indicators of healthy mountain ecosystems. However, nearly 60% of their range lies outside protected areas, making them vulnerable to threats like habitat fragmentation, retaliatory killings due to livestock loss, and poaching. Conservation efforts are also hampered by difficult terrain, limited surveillance tools, funding constraints, and a shortage of trained personnel.
Listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List, snow leopards are famously elusive, earning the nickname “ghost of the mountains.” Their long, bushy tails help them navigate rugged landscapes, while their camouflaged fur allows them to remain unseen.
National Plan for Protection
To bolster conservation efforts, Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment has rolled out the Snow Leopard Conservation and Action Plan (2024–2030). The six-year initiative focuses on resolving human-wildlife conflict, improving habitat connectivity, curbing poaching, and strengthening international cooperation.
The total budget for the plan is projected at Rs 1.77 billion, with 35% allocated for conflict mitigation through community-based programs and 26% for wildlife crime control. The strategy also emphasizes building local partnerships and enhancing conservation capacity at the grassroots level.
A Significant Conservation Milestone
Dr. Ghanshyam Gurung, WWF Nepal’s Country Representative, hailed the new population estimate as a “milestone” in the nation’s conservation legacy. He said the data would serve as a foundation for more targeted and inclusive protection strategies.
According to WWF’s 2021 global assessment, only 23% of the snow leopard’s entire range has been systematically studied, with confirmed population data for just 3%. Nepal’s updated assessment represents a major step toward closing that gap and reinforces the country’s growing leadership in conserving its high-mountain biodiversity.
