India counts 718 snow leopards in first-ever SPAI survey

India's first Snow Leopard Population Assessment (SPAI) recorded 718 snow leopards across the Indian Himalayas, with 477 in Ladakh alone. Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh shared the findings on International Snow Leopard Day, crediting habitat protection and community engagement. Separately, India extended privileges to the International Big Cat Alliance under the UN Act to boost global big cat conservation.