India, Aug. 20 -- A three-year camera trapping study has confirmed year-round presence and breeding activity of snow leopards in Jammu & Kashmir, especially the significance of Kishtwar Himalayas that provide an important habitat for snow leopards and several other threatened mammals.

Conducted between 2022 and 2025 across the Kishtwar Himalayas, the survey was launched under the nationwide Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) protocol. While earlier years confirmed the presence of snow leopards in the UT in summer and autumn, for the first time, the 2024-25 phase brought new insights - recording snow leopards during winter months in both Paddar (Jammu division) and Zojila (Kashmir division). This suggests year-round use of...