Gangtok, May 16: Sikkim has identified 21 endangered snow leopards in its high-altitude regions, according to the state’s first-ever Snow Leopard Population Assessment Report released on Friday, coinciding with the 50th Statehood Day celebrations.
The report, a joint effort by the Forest and Environment Department and WWF-India, is based on a two-year survey using camera traps across the Himalayan terrain. Officials say the findings indicate that Sikkim’s habitat can support a larger population of snow leopards.
To mark the golden jubilee, the state also introduced “Kuzu,” a snow leopard mascot symbolising its commitment to wildlife conservation and biodiversity.
Pradeep Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Forest and Environment Department, called the report a milestone reflecting Sikkim’s conservation efforts. He noted a rare sighting where a snow leopard and a Royal Bengal tiger were captured on the same camera trap, highlighting the state’s ecological diversity.
Sikkim became India’s 22nd state on May 16, 1975. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings, recognising the state’s natural beauty and development progress.
