International Snow Leopard Day 2024 | 24 Oct 2024

Source: DTE

Why in News? 

International Snow Leopard Day is celebrated every year on 23rd October.

International Snow Leopard Day

• It came into being in 2013, following the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration in Kyrgyzstan where 12 countries that host snow leopard populations agreed to collaborate in their conservation efforts. 
  • Countries Hosting Snow Leopards: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. 

What are Facts About Snow Leopards? 

• About: Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) are considered medium-sized cats that are known for their elusive nature and ability to thrive in harsh, high-altitude environments. 
• Habitat: They are native to the mountains of Central and South Asia and typically found at elevations between 9,800 and 17,000 feet in mountain ranges, including the Himalayas. 
  • Population estimates range between 3,500 and 7,000 individuals in the wild. 
• Adaptations: They are known as "ghosts of the mountains" due to their elusive nature and ability to blend into their surroundings.  
  • They possess thick, greyish-white fur that provides camouflage against snow and rocks. 
• Behaviour: Snow leopards do not roar. They communicate through growls, hisses, meows, and a unique sound called a "chuff." 
  • The animal is most active at dawn and dusk.  
  • Like most species of cats, snow leopards are solitary animals. 
• Reproduction: They usually mate between January and March, a time when both sexes mark their territories intensively leaving signs such as scrapes, faeces, urine and scent-spray in prominent locations along their travel routes. 
• Ecological Importance: Serve as top predators and Indicator species, as their presence reflects the health of their high-altitude ecosystems. 
  • Their kills provide food for scavengers like vultures and wolves, supporting other species.