🐆Snow leopards are big cats native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, including the Himalayas In India, they are found in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim.
🐆🐆Snow leopards are carnivorous predators hunting wild ungulates. Their diet includes Himalayan blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, argali, markhor and wild goats. They also prey on smaller mammals such as Himalayan marmots, pikas, voles.
Snow leopards are known as the “Ghost of the Mountains” due to their elusive nature. They have long tails that help with balance and warmth can leap up to 50 feet in one jump. Their paws act like natural snowshoes helping them walk on snow.
Here are places in India spot Snow Leopards 🐆🐆🐆🐆-
1. Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu and Kashmir is located in the Pir Panjal Range and is home to diverse flora and fauna, including the snow leopard. Visitors can explore its rich scenic landscapes.
2. Hemis National Park, Ladakh is renowned for having one of the highest densities of snow leopards. It is prime destination for wildlife enthusiasts to spot cats in their natural habitat.
3. Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh are many species of animals in the park, but the endangered Snow-Leopard draws more visitors.
4. Gangotri National Park, Uttarakhand Offers snow leopard trekking expeditions.
5. Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh are high chances of spotting snow leopards.
6. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand a UNESCO World Heritage Site with snow leopards.
🐆🐆🐆Observing Snow leopards guided treks and wildlife tours are available in these regions. Best time for sightings is typically during the winter months when snow leopards descend to lower altitudes in search of prey. However, due to their elusive nature and the challenging terrain, sightings are rare and require patience and preparation.