Himalayan Snow Leopard Research Centre to be set up in Himachal

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh would soon set up an international level research centre in Spiti valley for research and conservation of snow leopards in the higher altitudes in the country

"Himalayan Snow Leopard Research Centre would be set up in Spiti valley under the scheme for integrated development of wild life” Principal Chief Conservator of Forest A K Gulati said.

The Rs 5.50 crore project to be funded by Union ministry of forest and environment would emphasis on research and training on conservation of snow Leopard, Gulati added.

This would be the first comprehensive snow leopard radio collaring centre in India and the centre would have a fully equipped field station laboratory with necessary instruments, he said.

Gulati informed at present only Mangolia has such facility. Himachal has a population of 35 snow Leopards as per 2004 census out of which 23 are in the Spiti valley itself.