A recent survey conducted by WWF Nepal has revealed that Nepal is home to 397 snow leopards, accounting for approximately 10 percent of the global snow leopard population.

These elusive big cats inhabit roughly 30,500 square kilometers of Nepal’s high mountain regions. Globally, snow leopards are found across an estimated two million square kilometers, with the Snow Leopard Trust (USA) estimating the worldwide population to range between 3,020 and 5,390 individuals.

Snow leopards are distributed across 12 countries: Nepal, China, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

In recent years, countries like India, Mongolia, Bhutan, and Nepal have adopted advanced technologies to monitor and assess snow leopard populations more accurately. These methods include the use of camera traps, genetic analysis of scat samples, and population density mapping across various habitats.

According to Sarin Shrestha, WWF Nepal’s Mountain Program Manager, the latest data was derived from a comprehensive evaluation of research conducted between 2015 and 2024. The project was spearheaded by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation in collaboration with the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation, under the Ministry of Forests and Environment.

Snow leopard expert Shashanka Poudel noted that the study synthesized findings from multiple government-led and independent research initiatives. Data was gathered from seven key study areas, providing insights into population density and habitat range.

This national assessment was led by a senior ecologist and aligned with the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program’s 'Population Assessment of the World’s Snow Leopards' guidelines. It involved individual researchers and key conservation organizations, including WWF.

According to the most recent official figures:

China hosts between 2,000 and 2,500 snow leopards

Mongolia has 953

India reports 718

Nepal counts 397

Bhutan has 134

Snow leopards are considered a vital indicator species for a clean and healthy mountain ecosystem. However, experts warn that about 60 percent of their habitat lies outside protected areas, where increasing habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to their survival.