Saving the snow leopard in Himachal: Big Cat Alliance donates Rs 3cr for Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve
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Shimla: A team of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), led by Soumitra Dasgupta, has presented a Rs 3-crore cheque to chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for the conservation and management of the newly notified Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve in Lahaul and Spiti district, which has a high density of snow leopards.
Tsarap Chu was formally notified as India's largest conservation reserve on May 7, covering an area of 1,585 square kilometres. The reserve is located in a strategic trans-Himalayan region, bordering the Union Territory of Ladakh in the north, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary in the east, Kabjima Nullah in the south, and Chandertal Wildlife Sanctuary and Baralacha Pass in the west.
Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve is located in one of the high-density habitats of the snow leopards in Himachal Pradesh and supports a rich variety of Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan flora and fauna, including species such as Tibetan Wolf, Kiang, Bharal, Ibex, Tibetan Argali, and avifauna like Rose Finches, Tibetan Ravens, and Yellow-billed Choughs.
Expressing gratitude for the support, Sukhu said the funds would catalyse early-stage conservation activities such as the preparation of the management plan, the constitution of the conservation reserve management committee, and capacity building of relevant stakeholders.
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