A.C. installed room for Snow Leopard in Central Zoo (Photo Feature)

Kathmandu: Experts have sensed animal trafficking in the recent snow leopard case.

A snow Leopard was found in a bamboo grove in Charghare, Morang. This drew the attention of the globe as it was not normal for a high-altitude animal to be found in the Terai belt.  Experts, during a press conference organized by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPC) in Central Zoo on Friday, said, ‘This incident has surprised us.’

The experts predicted that the snow leopard might have escaped when it was brought by smugglers to be smuggled into India.  Snow leopards had been brought to Central Zoo, Jawalakhel.

Experts of Snow Leopard said, ‘The average life of the snow leopard is one and a half years. The leopard separated from its mother. Someone had captured it. It requires a temperature between 15-17 degrees Celsius for the survival. There was a cold wave in Morang when it was found. That’s why the leopard survived.’ They said that snow leopards were found above the height of 2500 meters from the sea level in Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasaba, Taplejung, and other places.

The Snow leopard has been kept inside an Airconditioned room. DNPWC said that the temperature has been maintained between 15 to 17 degrees Celsius. Later, it will be freed in its habitat.

Snow Leopards have been kept in the ‘Red List’ of IUCN. It is on the list of protected wildlife as per the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029.

(Glimpses of Snow Leopard)

(Photo Courtesy: Saroj Basnet)