BEIJING: Chinese researchers conducted the world's largest survey and discovered an estimated population size of 1,002 snow leopards on the Tibetan Plateau. The survey, conducted between 2015 and 2021, covered approximately 360,000 square kilometers (138,997 square miles) of the plateau in northwest China, known locally as the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

According to Anadolu Agency, the assessment survey was conducted by organizations, including Peking University, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), and the Shan Shui Conservation Center (SSCC). An article about their findings was published in the international journal of Biodiversity and Conservation on Jan. 11, as reported by Xinhua News on Wednesday.

This marks the first time China has completed a major snow leopard population assessment, constituting the largest-scale rare species population survey ever published. Xiao Lingyun, an assistant professor at XJTLU and co-author of the article, emphasized the significance of this survey. 'The king of the mountains,' as the snow leopard is known, is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The study utilized existing infrared camera survey data from 12 monitoring sites collected over six years. During this period, four organizations, including the SSCC, recorded nearly 10,000 snow leopard activity records. The findings reveal that over 110,000 square kilometers of the surveyed area are potentially suitable habitats for these elusive creatures.

China, which hosts nearly 60% of the world's snow leopard habitats, has placed the species under first-class national protection. The evasive nature of snow leopards makes accurate population accounting challenging. However, the Sanjiangyuan area, one of the most densely populated regions for snow leopards globally, reportedly has between 7,446 to 7,996 snow leopards, according to earlier estimates.

In contrast, neighboring Pakistan has taken a different approach to big cat conservation. The government has permitted residents in the populous Punjab province to raise five species of big cats-lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas, and jaguars. However, there is a strict prohibition against exhibiting these animals on social media platforms, as noted by the local daily Dawn.