A recent study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on snow leopard ( Panthera uncia) has thrown up interesting insights on the elusive mountain cat and its prey species. The study under National Mission on Himalayan Studies revealed a strong link between habitat use by Snow Leopard and its prey species Siberian ibex and blue sheep.
Scientists used camera traps and sign surveys to evaluate the co-occurrence patterns of snow leopards and its prey species (Siberian ibex and blue sheep) in Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh. Details of the study have been recently published in a paper titled Landscape use and co-occurrence pattern of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its prey species in the fragile ecosystem of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh published in the journal Plos One.
