The fugure was revealed in the first-ever Snow Leopard Population Assessment Report, jointly presented by the Forest and Environment Department and WWF-India.
As Sikkim celebrates its golden jubilee of statehood on Friday, it has unwrapped a gift from the wild.
The first-ever Snow Leopard Population Assessment Report, jointly presented by the Forest and Environment Department and WWF-India, has identified 21 endangered snow leopards in the high-altitude zones of north and west Sikkim.
The study involved two years of meticulous scientific tracking, using camera traps, across the Himalayan terrain.
To mark the occasion, the state has also introduced a new mascot, a snow leopard named “Kuzu”, which is meant to symbolise Sikkim’s commitment to wildlife protection and biodiversity.
“This is not just a scientific milestone, but a testament to Sikkim’s deeply rooted conservation policies,” Pradeep Kumar, who is the principal secretary of the Forest and Environment Department, said, emphasising that the state’s focused efforts are allowing forest life to thrive.
Mr Kumar also recalled a rare instance where a Royal Bengal tiger and a snow leopard were captured on the same camera trap, highlighting Sikkim’s unique ecological riches.
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