‘23for23’ Initiative:
India celebrated International Snow Leopard Day (October 23, 2025) with the nationwide ‘#23for23’ campaign.Government also unveiled the first-ever national Snow Leopard Census, recording 718 individuals across the Indian Himalayas.It is a nationwide awareness campaign launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to engage citizens in snow leopard conservation through community-driven participation.
Aim is to raise awareness about snow leopard habitats and conservation challenges,to inspire public involvement in protecting India’s high-altitude ecosystems under the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP).Collaborating Agencies: Led by MoEFCC, supported by WWF-India, Snow Leopard Trust, and local communities under the Project Snow Leopard.
Key Findings of the Snow Leopard Census in India (2025):
- The census recorded 718 individual snow leopards across India’s Himalayan landscape — marking the first official nationwide estimate.
- Ladakh: 477 individuals — the highest population in India.
- Himachal Pradesh: 51 individuals.
- Uttarakhand: 71 individuals.
- Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim: 61 individuals combined.
- Jammu & Kashmir (excluding Ladakh): 58 individuals.
