39 snow leopards counted in Upper Humla

KATHMANDU: The snow leopard population in Namkha Rural Municipality of Humla has reached 39.

Researchers counted 39 snow leopards in northern Humla during a recent census conducted by the Division Forest Office, Humla, in coordination with Upper Karnali Landscape Initiatives (UKALI) and Third Pole Conservatory. The census was conducted between 2022 and 2023 using the “camera trapping” technique.

Assistant Forest Officer of Humla, Babu Lal Bamjan, told RSS that at least 39 snow leopards were identified in Namkha Rural Municipality.

Researchers had installed 61 cameras in different parts of Namkha for the study.

Namkha, which lies in Upper Humla and borders the autonomous region of Tibet in China, covers approximately 2,419.64 square kilometers.

The global snow leopard population has been estimated at 3,921 to 6,290. Nepal is home to an estimated 400 snow leopards. The IUCN has classified this evasive cat as an endangered species. In Nepal, snow leopards have been recorded at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level.