The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) has a wide habitat range spanning over 2.8 million km2 across 12 range countries in south and central Asia. The species is globally threatened, yet there isn’t a robust global population estimate. The difficulty in obtaining a reliable population estimate is attributed to the secretive nature of the species, low population densities, and remoteness of the mountainous terrains that they occupy. The global snow leopard population is estimated to be between 3,920 to 7,500 individuals, though these numbers vary between different assessments.
In Bhutan, snow leopard finds a haven across the wide expanse of pristine alpine habitats, less inhabited by humans. The species is revered by the local communities, and it is strictly protected under forest and nature conservation laws. Bhutan started the first snow leopard survey in the 1980s, but the first robust estimate was reported only in 2016 using remote camera traps. The National Snow Leopard Survey (NSLS) 2022-2023 was conducted with the main objective of estimating the current population of snow leopards in Bhutan, including its distribution pattern. It is expected to contribute towards the global goal of assessing the global snow leopard population.
The NSLS report 2022-2023 provides an updated status of the snow leopard in Bhutan. The report is an outcome of the camera trapping survey spanning five protected areas namely Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve, Jigme Dorji National Park, Wangchuck Centennial National Park, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and two Divisional Forest Offices of Paro and Thimphu.