Srinagar, May 17(KNS): The Department of Wildlife Protection in Jammu and Kashmir has officially announced the confirmation of Snow Leopard presence in the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park. 

Camera trap photographs captured multiple images of Snow Leopards before the snowfall, according to a statement released on Tuesday.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Wildlife Warden, Suresh Kumar Gupta, commended the research team led by Dr. Kumar MK, Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu, and Majid Bashir Mintoo, Wildlife Warden, Chenab Division Kishtwar, for their efforts.

The retrieved camera trap images depict Snow Leopards wandering amidst the pristine snow-covered landscapes in the Renai catchment of Kishtwar High Altitude National Park. The remarkable adaptability of this elusive species to the challenging high-altitude environment of Kishtwar is evident in these photographs.

The successful camera trap sighting of Snow Leopards validates the effectiveness of the park's conservation strategies, which include habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, community engagement, and scientific research.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThese combined efforts have fostered an environment conducive to the flourishing Snow Leopard population within the park and its adjacent areas.

Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, located in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, is renowned for its rich biodiversity, housing various rare and endangered species. The Snow Leopard, as a keystone species, plays a vital role in maintaining the delicate ecosystem balance. 

The conservation of this apex predator in the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park also safeguards the diverse wildlife coexisting within its boundaries, including the Himalayan Ibex, Musk Deer, and numerous avian species.

Furthermore, the Department of Wildlife Protection captured two leopards (one adult and one sub-adult) in a single frame of a camera trap in Nanth Nallah as part of the Snow Leopard Population Assessment and biodiversity documentation of protected areas undertaken by the department.(KNS).