International Snow Leopard Day: climate change shrinking habitat

Nepal has an estimated 397 snow leopards, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment. International Snow Leopard Day was observed worldwide on October 23 under the theme 'Guardian of High Mountain Ecosystems, Conservation of the Snow Leopard.' The day is observed to raise public awareness about the conservation of the rare snow leopard.

Snow leopards are found in only 12 countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia and Russia, and are considered an indicator of a clean mountain environment. Although Nepal holds only about 2 percent of the world's snow leopard habitat, it is home to nearly 10 percent of the world's snow leopard population, according to the data.

Their habitat spans roughly 30,500 square kilometres of Nepal's high mountain region. The global population is estimated at between about 4,000 and 7,000. Due to climate change, snow leopard habitat is steadily shrinking.