In one of India's coldest and most remote regions, a group of women have taken on an unlikely role: protecting one of Asia's most elusive predators, the snow leopard.
Snow leopards are found in just 12 countries across Central and South Asia. India is home to one of the world's largest populations, with a nationwide survey in 2023 estimating more than 700 animals.
These silent predators roam around Kibber village in Himachal Pradesh state's Spiti Valley, a high-altitude cold desert along the Himalayan belt. Historically viewed as a threat due to attacks on livestock, local attitudes are shifting as the importance of the snow leopard as a top predator in the food chain becomes recognized.
In a remarkable shift, nearly a dozen local women now work alongside the Himachal Pradesh forest department and conservationists to monitor and protect this endangered species. Organized as 'Shenmo', the group employs camera traps enabled by training from the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) to capture evidence of snow leopards.
Working in harsh winter conditions, the women wake early, tending to household chores before embarking on treks to camera sites. They’ve documented the presence of snow leopards and other wildlife across thousands of square kilometers, contributing to essential conservation data.
The local community, influenced by their efforts, now supports the conservation work, understanding that protecting snow leopards also protects the fragile ecosystem they inhabit.
Through these initiatives, the women find motivation and earn a small income while fostering deeper connections to their land. Their ongoing efforts exemplify how engaged communities can play pivotal roles in wildlife conservation, especially as climate change presents new challenges to the delicate mountain ecosystem.
As one local resident put it: Earlier, we thought the snow leopard was our enemy. Now we think their conservation is important.
