Lok Sabha Question No. 3959 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-10
Subject: Snow Leopards
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MAHEISH GIRRI, KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3959

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2018

## Snow Leopards

## 3959.   SHRI MAHESH GIRRI: SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the total number of snow leopards in the country during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether a number of leopards have been killed during the year 2018 and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the number of poachers who have been arrested and booked for killing leopards along with leopards poached during last ten years;
- (d) whether the Government has released funds to States under the Project 'Snow Leopard' and if so, the details of funds allocated to States during the last three years and the current year; and
- (e) the steps being taken for conservation and protection of the leopards in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) The State/Union Territory - wise population of Snow Leopards is not collated in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- (b) and (c) As  per  the  data  received  by  State  Enforcement  Agencies,  no  Snow  Leopards  are killed during the  year 2018. During last ten years nine Snow Leopard were killed and eight poachers are arrested.
- (d) During  the  last  three  years,  based  on  the  proposals  received  under  Centrally Sponsored Scheme -Development of Wildlife Habitats from the State Governments, the Ministry has released the funds as below:

## (Rs in Lakhs)

| States/Year       | 2015-16     | 2016-17   | 2017-18           |
|-------------------|-------------|-----------|-------------------|
| Arunachal Pradesh | -           | -         | -                 |
| Himachal Pradesh  | 33.96 lakhs | -         | -                 |
| Jammu and Kashmir |             | 4.81      | Rs. 386.505 lakhs |
| Sikkim            | -           | -         | -                 |
| Uttarakhand       | -           | -         | -                 |

- (e) The steps being taken for conservation and protection of the leopards in the country are:
- i. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for punishment for violation of its  provisions. The Act also provides for forfeiture of any equipment, vehicle or weapon that is used for committing wildlife offence(s).
- ii. Law enforcement authorities in the States maintain strict vigil against poaching of Snow Leopards.
- iii. The  Ministry  has  launched  'Project  Snow  Leopard',  implemented  in  the Himalayan  States  of  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Jammu  and Kashmir, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.
- iv. The Ministry with the financial support of Global Environment Facility (GEF) and in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is implementing  GoI-UNDP-GEF  Project:  Securing  livelihoods,  conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems (SECURE Himalaya), wherein the landscapes of Snow Leopard in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim and Uttarakhand are integral part of the project.
- v. Wildlife  Crime  Control  Bureau  has  been  set  up  to  gather  intelligence  about poaching  and  unlawful  trade  in  wild  animals  and  animal  articles,  including Snow Leopards, and to achieve inter-state and trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.
- vi. The State/Union Territory Governments have been requested to strengthen the field formations and intensity patrolling in and around Protected Areas.
- vii. Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important  wildlife  habitats  have  been  created all  over  the  country  under  the  provisions  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.
- viii. Financial assistant is provided to State/Union Territory Governments under the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats', 'Project  Tiger'  and  'Project  Elephant',  for  providing  better  protection  to wildlife including Snow Leopards and improvement of habitat.