Celebrating International Snow Leopard Day:-
We will talk about International Snow Leopard Day, as well as in this video lesson, we will understand what are the characteristics of Snow Leopards, after that we will talk about the distribution of Snow Leopards i.e. In which areas and in which countries are snow leopards found? Then we will talk about their population.
After that we will talk about what are the threats that snow leopards have to face due to which their survival is in danger. The population is declining and lastly we will talk about which are the international and national efforts through which efforts are being made to protect and conserve the snow leopard population.
So first of all we will talk about International Snow Lapper Day is an annual event and is celebrated or organized every year on 23 October. Let’s talk about International Snow Lapper Day. It was organized and celebrated for the first time on 23 October 2011. Was and every year there is a theme of International Snow Leopard Day and the theme of this year and the theme of 2024 is Safeguarding Snow Leopard Habitats for Future Generation .
The Primary International Snow leopard discussion board:-
I told you for the primary time that is international snow leopard day that is it turned into celebrated on october 23, 2023 and it was celebrated in bishkek, the capital of kyrgyzstan and here for the first time, the nations which might be the range countries of snow leopard, that is, those nations participated in the first global leopard forum.Participated where these snow leopards are found and here a declaration was signed whose name was Poison Cake Declaration and the main motive of this poison cake declaration was to conserve the snow leopard and let us talk about the main purpose of this.
Purpose of International Snow Leopard Day:-
The main purpose of International Snow Leopard Day is to make people aware of snow leopard conservation and at the same time to highlight the challenges that snow leopards are facing and due to which their population is declining. They are declining. Now let’s talk about some general facts and some important things about Snow Leopards.
Scientific Classification and Nature:-
First of all let’s talk about the scientific name. So the scientific name of Snow Leopards is Panthera Ansia. After that let’s talk about Snow Leopards. As far as their nature is concerned, these snow leopards are of solitator nature, that is, they like to live alone, they do not like to come in front, after that, they are mountain deviant mammals, that is, they are found more in the hilly areas and talking about habitat.
Habitat and Climate:-
If we talk about the climate, then these snow leopards are found in the high mountain ranges of Central and South Asian countries whose elevation ranges from 3000 to 5400 meters. After that, they are found in the alpine and sub-alpine climates. Talking about a very interesting fact, these snow leopards cannot roar. We also know their sound as purring, hissing, ground wailing or chafing.
Unique Adaptations:-
After that, let’s talk about an important fact, what are their feet. They are oversized or because of oversized feed, they are easy, they can walk or run in the snow, that is, they have oversized feet, they work as snow shoes for the snow leopard, so that they can walk or run. Now let’s talk about its nickname which is very interesting.
The “Ghost of the Mountain”:-
Snow Leopard is also known as Ghost of the Mountain. Why is it called Ghost of the Mountain? And as we know that ghosts are rarely seen, no one has seen them, they have only heard about them, so it happens that snow leopards are rarely seen and mostly only people. People only know about its name and common people have not seen it and it is called a ghost because it is very mysterious and mysterious in nature, that is, it always remains hidden and never comes in front of most of the people.
And it also lives in a very harsh and inhospitable landscape due to which it is called the Host of the Mountains, so these snow leopards are very difficult to find and see because their color is pale and with Their fur is of smoky gray color with dark rosettes on it. What is characteristic of this fur is that it provides very good camouflage which makes them very difficult to spot.
Countries Where Snow Leopards Are Found:-
It is difficult and that is why they are able to live easily in the rocky and snow covered landscape without being noticed by anyone and their secret behavior and their solitary nature is the reason due to which they get the ghostly reputation. And this is the reason why we see less of it. Now next let’s talk about the countries where the snow leopard is found and these are total 12 countries where the snow leopard is found like Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India.
Population Estimates:-
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Snow Leopard is found in these countries and if we talk about the population of Snow Leopard, then according to the latest estimator, it is 4000 to 6500, which is the population of Snow Leopard in the whole world wide and its Next, if we talk about India, a report has been published recently in January 2024 in which the name is Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India, according to which there are 718 individuals of Snow Leopard in India at this time.
Present and after that, now let us talk about the threats that the Snow Leopard is facing due to which the population of Snow Leopards is so low, so those threats are due to habitat loss i.e. human encroachment which is happening every day.
Habitat Loss and Human Encroachment:-
Their habitat is decreasing, the forests are decreasing due to which their population is declining, after that comes second poaching i.e. illegal hunting, which is going on a lot, hence The population of snow leopards is declining and at the same time, climate change also plays an important role in the decline of their population, as well as the prey they feed on. Their availability is decreasing due to which they are not able to get food and they are not able to survive and their population is declining.
Poaching and Climate Change:-
Now let us talk about their protection status and if we talk about ICN status then it is snow. The ICN status of leopard is Vulnerable i.e. it is at high risk of extinction. After that, if we talk about these snow leopards then these are the cities sites i.e. the list which is in Appendix One of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species. These are the species that come in Appendix One, they are at high risk of extinction and along with that, high degree of protection is provided. After that, if we talk about India, India’s Wide Life Protection Act 1972 is there. Snow leopards, which are under Schedule One, have been categorized as easy and snow leopards, which are Schedule One, the animals that come under it, are also provided with the highest level of protection, now let’s talk about conservation.
Global Initiatives:-
Efforts that are being taken to protect snow leopards. First of all, if we talk about the global effort, its name is Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program which is a significant international initiative to protect these snow leopards and this If we talk about the main focus of this Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program, then it gives more emphasis on Community Based Product Protection or Community Based Conservation, that is, evolve the communities and protect them.
This program addresses the above mentioned stress and at the same time talks about promoting some sustainable farming practices. This program deals with the people who are hunting them or are in conflict with the wild life.This program talks about providing an alternative livelihood to those people who have an alternative employment or an alternative livelihood to sustain themselves so that the killings of snow leopards can be reduced.
Bishkek Declaration:-
After that, we talk about Bishkek Declaration, so these 12 countries whose names I told you had signed it in 2013 and its main aim was to insure the long term survival of the snow leopard species and also Along with increasing Colbet Conservation.
National Projects in India:-
Now the next one which is a project of India is Project Snow Leopard which is a national level project which was launched by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change in 2009 and which also includes wildlife. There are populations that live in high altitudes, such as snow leopards, there was talk of protecting them and at the same time there was talk of bringing some such policies in which the protection of these species should be done in a participatory manner.
Breeding Programs and NGOs:-
Talking about the breeding program, we have Padma Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in India, which is in West Bengal, where the breeding program of snow leopards is being run and it has also got international recognition, after that Snow Leopards. Let’s talk about Leopard Conservancy India Trust, it is an NGO which works in the Trans Himalayan regions and if we talk about them in general, this NGO works in areas like Ladakh and Spiti and also for the protection of Snow Leopard. It is playing a very important role in India and it was founded by Mr.Rinchan Wangchuk, who is a Ladakhi mountaineer and a conservative conservative.