Ladakh Proposes Guided Snow‑Leopard Safaris, Sparking Conservation Alarm

Ladakh plans to launch guided wildlife safaris along snow‑leopard trails. Conservationists warn that opening fragile high‑altitude routes could disturb the cats and other wildlife. The union territory hosts India’s largest contiguous snow‑leopard habitat. Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) have a thick pale‑grey coat with dark rosettes that blend into snow and rock. A long, bushy tail helps them balance and stay warm. Unlike other big cats, they do not roar; they communicate with growls, high‑pitched yowls and chuffing sounds. They roam high mountains across Central and Northern Asia, including the Himalayas. A recent report put India’s snow‑leopard count at 718 individuals, while the global mature population exceeds 3,386. The IUCN Red List classifies the species as vulnerable, and India gives it Schedule I protection under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Snow leopards are apex predators that keep mountain ecosystems in balance. Their survival is threatened by rising tourism, road and dam projects, habitat loss and climate‑driven changes. In a July 2025 Mongabay‑India report, INSA senior scientist Yadvendradev Jhala said Ladakh’s snow‑leopard population is contiguous, linking to groups in China, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan and the Karakoram. He urged that any new infrastructure be planned carefully to avoid breaking this vital corridor.