India, Jan. 30 -- Government report emphasises need for a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun

There are 718 snow leopards in India. However, only a third of their habitat is under legal protection, showed a report released by the Government of India and non-profit organisations on January 30, 2024.

Only 34 per cent of the 120,000 square kilometre (sq km) snow leopard habitat in India legally protected. Almost 70 per cent of it, crucial for the predator, remains unprotected, Status Report of Snow Leopards in India noted.

The report emphasised the need for a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Chang...