Snow Leopard

Context (TH): Snow Leopard has been declared the National Symbol of Kyrgyzstan.
Snow leopard (or Ghost of the Mountains) is a keystone and indicator species of high-altitude habitat. It is a flagship species for the high-altitude Himalayan ecosystem.
It is the 7^th largest cat species in the world.
Distribution: It is native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. In India, it occurs in the Himalayan region.

Habitat: Alpine and subalpine zones.
Indian states/UTs with largest snow leopard population: 1^st Ladakh > 2^nd HP > 3^rd Uttarakhand.
Threats: Habitat loss, poaching, climate change, unregulated tourism, and competition with livestock.
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable | CITES: Appendix I | WPA,1972: Schedule I

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