Snow Leopards Thriving in Ladakh's Heights

The Recording Strategy

Frankly, taking account of the snow leopards is not the same as counting sheep. As these big cats are perfectly hidden amongst rocky, mountainous terrain. But the clever science came into play to save the day. This is not just a win for conservation. It is a story of a massive comeback.

• In what is being called the most expansive study of its kind, scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India and the Snow Leopard Trust mapped over 47,000 square kilometers of landscape in Ladakh.
• Teams set up 956 motion-sensitive camera traps, surveyed over 6,000 km, and took approximately 26,000 images for the count and individual identification of the thriving snow leopard population in Ladakh through spot patterns, based on their foreheads. Additionally, the teams frequently used perfume to attract leopards to get a good close look at their faces and features.
• Followed by the AI facial recognition software to be able to track leopards individually.
• The researchers also recorded more than 9,500 signs of snow leopards, identified by intriguing characteristics such as scrapes, scat, and paw prints.
• And just like that, the final tally says that there are 477 snow leopards, a monumental number that confirms Ladakh now encapsulates close to 68% of India’s snow leopard population.

Humans & Snow Leopards: A Matter of Rarity

Now here’s the most beautiful part: approximately 60% of Ladakh’s snow leopards live outside of a protected park area; it would be safe to say that they reside in the same landscape as humans. Interestingly, rather than the conflict, the communities are experiencing coexistence. All thanks to the Buddhist ideologies and their utterly impactful conservation messaging, there has been a greater understanding and respect for these amazing wildlife species.

• In many areas, the local pastoralists graze their livestock in high-altitude meadows, where it is likely that the snow leopard territory is present.
• Many eco-tourists are now financially supporting households, turning snow leopard sightings into a matter of pride and practice.
• The villagers operate as wildlife guides, trackers, and homestay hosts, particularly in places like Ulley and Rumbak, giving their assistance to many guests for their dream of sighting the snow leopards in Ladakh.

This is more than just about conservation; this is a community-driven practice turned fairy tale.

Reasons behind Ladakh being an Ideal abode for the Snow Leopards

• The presence of wild prey in abundance, such as blue sheep (bharal), ibex, and Ladakh urial, gives these big cats all the wild food they need to survive and thrive.
• The remoteness of the land and the significant attributes of Ladakh wildlife give them an excellent upper hand for stalking and capturing the prey without any human invasion or disturbance.
• Additionally, there is limited to no competition from other predators, which ultimately gives leopards enough peace and space.
• Moreover, combining science and local wisdom as well as the utter communal support and engagement has made snow leopard conservation in Ladakh a success story. A harsh and unforgiving environment turned into a wonderland for the snow leopard.

Thriving in a land where others barely survive!

New striking evidence from Ladakh makes it crystal clear that the snow leopard population in Ladakh is on the rise. The ghost cat of the Himalayas is not just surviving; it is thriving. More importantly, these big cats are not occurring in a vacuum but coexisting with herders, monks, children, and camera-bearing travelers who trek to these frozen heights with excitement and hope.

The snow leopards of Ladakh are more than an icon of wildness; a result of a collaborative process, they are evidence that, in the spirit of respect, science and communities, wildlife conservation does not need to be a battle of wills but a significant celebration of joint efforts. So, if you are arriving in Hemis, or Ulley, or anywhere else in the whole of Ladakh, it is important to understand that every encounter, every footprint, and every retelling are part of an even larger conservation journey of snow leopards.

Latest Update: Rare Snow Leopard Sighting Sparks Hope in Ladakh Himalayas

A unique and uplifting wildlife experience in Ladakh has become viral, thanks to a recent video release from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The three snow leopards seem to be having great fun together playing in a large area of deep snow that was captured by BRO's Project Himank, and is evidence of the success of our ongoing efforts to conserve snow leopards.

#SnowLeopardSentinel#EcoSensitiveBRO#WildlifeWithBRO

Spotting of the elusive Snow Leopard in the High Himalayas by Project Himank@BROindia—a powerful reminder that infrastructure development and nature conservation go hand in hand.@LAHDC_LEH @lg_ladakh @adgpi… pic.twitter.com/zUtKdc67kl

— 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (@BROindia) February 1, 2026

The video demonstrates how the development of infrastructure can co-exist with the conservation of biodiversity within the fragile high-altitude Himalayan ecosystem. Experts note that endemic group sightings demonstrate a sound ecosystem, abundant prey supply for those predators, and little disturbance from human activity.

Ladakh is recognized globally as the largest remaining stronghold for the endangered population of snow leopards in India; 477 of India's total population or 718 snow leopards reside in Ladakh, with prominent snow leopard habitats like Hemis National Park, Rumbak Valley, and Ulley Valley now receiving international tourism attention for wildlife.