M Aamir Khan
A photograph of a snow leopard in the upper reaches of Ladakh region has gone viral on social media during the past few days. Captured by wildlife photographer Sascha Fonseca, the image of the frowning wild cat ‘reacting to the shutter sound’ of the camera has mesmerized netizens.
The snow leopard’s photograph has also sparked a fresh interest in the wild cat often referred to as the ‘ghost of the mountains’ because of their incredible natural camouflage. While sharing the photograph on Instagram, Fonseca remarked: “A snow leopard youngster interacts with my camera trap in the mountains of Ladakh. He is probably reacting to the shutter sound of the DSLR.” Another photograph at the same location had this caption: “The frowning snow leopard posted earlier is actually a cute character. He spent quite some time in front of the lens.
Scanning the valley for prey, while at the same time investigating the DSLR. As if it was all for his entertainment (sic).” The photographs have been shared by all right from international wildlife stakeholders to the J&K’s Department of Wildlife Protection. The photographs have led to calls for conservation of the snow leopards as their present population as per the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates is between 4,000 and 6,500. Interestingly, the conservation of the snow leopard is directly linked to the ecology and the wild cat is referred to as a ‘good indicator species’.
The WWF observations rightly point out: “The snow leopard is an iconic and culturally treasured cat across its global range and is a good indicator species as it quickly reacts to habitat disturbance. Its successful conservation requires sustainable long-term systemic solutions to the threats impacting the quality of habitats. Conserving snow leopards means conserving mountain habitats which are the water towers of Asia. Snow leopards play a key role as a top predator, an indicator of the health of their high-altitude habitat, and, increasingly, an important indicator of the impacts of climate change on mountain environments.”
Unfortunately, the snow leopard habitat range continues to decline due to various reasons. Climate change, human disturbance, poaching and increased use of grazing spaces have been blamed by the experts for the decline in the natural habitat of the snow leopards. On top of that, snow leopards have been poached for their fur while their bones and other body parts are also used in traditional medicine. A report of the WWF and UN Environment Program (UNEP) published last year had pointed out that conflict-related killing affects more than 75 per cent of the world’s wild cat species, as well as many other terrestrial and marine carnivore species such as polar bears and Mediterranean monk seals, and large herbivores such as elephants. Snow leopards have also become a victim of retaliatory killings by local farmers and herders as a result of human-wildlife conflict. The snow leopard’s habitat range extends across the mountainous regions of 12 countries including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
It is pertinent to note that while 60 per cent of the snow leopard habitat is found in China, more than 70% of their estimated habitat remains has remained undiscovered. And Kashmir valley too happens to be among the unexplored habitats of the snow leopard. Snow leopard sightings are usually reported from Kishtwar, Gurez and Thajwas areas of Jammu and Kashmir besides the Ladakh region. Last year, the Wildlife Department had announced that it would be conducting the snow leopard census. The survey is a part of the nationwide population assessment of snow leopards, being carried out as per the protocols laid by the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change. While the wildlife lovers are hoping that the government would expedite the process, camera trapping experts of snow leopards from Himachal Pradesh were recently roped in to track the elusive high mountain animal in the Kashmir valley.
Though camera traps have been used to track hanguls here in the past, using the same technology extensively in the higher reaches poses a challenge in Kashmir. The setting of camera traps extensively will not only be helpful for the first-ever snow leopard survey launched in Jammu and Kashmir last year but will also aid in verifying claims of sightings of the elusive animal. The camera trapping for snow leopards in the higher reaches is expected to commence from August-September as part of the central snow leopard project of the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change. Once the camera traps are set up, the local stakeholders too can hope to capture the snow leopard like Sascha Fonseca. Besides camera traps, the local authorities will also look for hair samples, scat and other evidence which would be sent to a Bengaluru-based central government institute for DNA analysis to ensure perfect data after completion of the exercise. However, setting up these cameras in the higher reaches would require assistance of mountaineers even as members of the J&K Mountaineering and Hiking Club (JKMHC) too have been roped in for the survey of snow leopards in the union territory.
And the conservation of the snow leopard is not just confined to the animal itself. As stated earlier, the snow leopard population is a marker of ecological balance. If the snow leopards live and flourish, so will countless other species. If the ‘mountain ghost’ thrives, so will the freshwater reservoirs and mountain habitats of the planet Earth!
