Snow leopard ( UPSC Prelims)

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News Context

The study estimated that there are 477 snow leopards in Ladakh. These majestic creatures inhabit the mountainous regions of South and Central Asia, specifically in India across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim. Globally, Hemis National Park, Kargil, and Leh are known for having the highest densities of these animals. Snow leopards are solitary animals and, unlike other big cats, they cannot roar.
 In terms of conservation efforts, initiatives such as Project Snow Leopard India, the International Big Cat Alliance, and the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme have been established. Important declarations and resolutions include the Bishkek Declaration (2017) and the Samarakhand Resolution (2024). The snow leopard is recognized as the state animal of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Additionally, the CaTRAT (Camera Trap data Repository and Analysis Tool) is used to identify Himalayan snow leopards.