NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Union Forest Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that his ministry is ready to extend all support to the Arunachal Pradesh government in conservation of the snow leopard.
He assured this upon receiving a letter from Member of Parliament Ninong Ering, requesting for a survey to find the number of snow leopards in Arunachal Pradesh.
Ering had written to the union minister after photographic evidence emerged of the presence of snow leopards in Thembang area of West Kameng district.
In his 4 December, 2017 letter, the MP also requested the union minister to initiate Project Snow Leopard in Arunachal Pradesh.
‘Arunachal Pradesh is already part of “Project Snow Leopard” launched by this ministry. Under this project, the ministry provides financial assistance under the component “Recovery programme for critically endangered species” under the centrally sponsored scheme of “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat”,’ said Dr Vardhan in a letter to Ering.
Dr Vardhan said that the snow leopard census is necessary to study their extent and plan other conservation efforts, and that his ministry is ready to support the state Forest department in its endeavour related to snow leopard.
He said that the Project Snow Leopard document already has a roadmap for the ministry to carry out conservation efforts for snow leopards in India.
