The centre has extended all possible support to the Forest Department of Arunachal Pradesh Government for the conservation of Snow Leopard.
Arunachal Pradesh is part of ‘Project Snow Leopard’ launched by the Indian Government in the past. Under this project, the Ministry provides financial assistance under the component — Recovery Programme for critically endangered species under the centrally sponsored scheme of Integrated Development of wildlife Habitat.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr HarshVardhan said the Ministry is happy to receive news of snow leopard in the state and the efforts of Project Snow Leopard has yielded positive results. The Union Minister told this in a letter addressed to Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal, Ninong Ering.
Earlier Lok Sabha MP Ninong Ering in his letter to the Union Minister requested that Project Snow Leopard be initiated in the state. “In Arunachal Pradesh, there is also need for the extension of the area allotted to the snow leopard landscape, with a plan for community participation in the surveillance process, as most of the forests are community owned,” the letter said.
A recent study on snow leopards yielded photographic evidence of the presence of snow leopard in Thembang area under West Kameng district. The study was conducted by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
“We agree with you that snow leopard census is necessary to study their extent and plan other conservation efforts and the ministry will support the State Forest Department in any endeavour related to Snow Leopard,” Dr Vardhan said in a letter.
Source: TNT