Srinagar, Aug. 19 -- Snow leopards or "grey ghosts of the mountains", one of the world's most elusive big cats and hard to track, are silently not only surviving but thriving in Jammu and Kashmir, according to findings of a new survey.

A landmark three-year camera-trapping study - a method used in wildlife research to remotely monitor animals using cameras, often placed in areas where they are difficult to observe directly - conducted by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the wildlife protection department of Jammu and Kashmir has confirmed year-round presence and breeding activity of snow leopards in the Union Territory -- marking a significant breakthrough for high-altitude biodiversity conservation in India.

Conducted betwe...