Saturday, 30 July 2022 | Vinod Chamoli | New Tehri
Work is being expedited to construct the nation’s first snow leopard conservation centre in the Gangotri national park in Uttarkashi district. The project is being executed under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project Secure Himalaya. The construction of this centre is aimed at supporting efforts for conservation of snow leopards and also informing the tourists and other visitors about the elusive big cat which inhabits the high altitude Himalayan regions.
The evidence of snow leopards inhabiting this region of the State are often found through camera traps. According to the national park officials, with the snow leopard population consistently increasing in the region, it is estimated that 40 to 50 of these big cats inhabit the national park area. The snow leopard conservation centre will be built near the national park’s entry gate in Bhaironghati. Training programmes related to the snow leopard will be conducted at this centre along with arrangements for researchers. Apart from this, tourists and other visitors will be informed about the snow leopard through a documentary. The Bhagirathi circle conservator Dharm Singh Meena informed that the detailed project report has been prepared for construction of the snow leopard conservation centre. Programmes will be conducted for conservation and raising awareness from this centre. Those visiting Gangotri will get information about the snow leopard at this centre so that they too may become involved in the conservation of this big cat. Further, new employment opportunities will also be created, he added.
