Meet the women protecting India's snow leopards

In India's Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, a group of local women are working to protect the elusive snow leopard. Known locally as "Shenmo," these women collaborate with the Himachal Pradesh forest department and conservationists to track and monitor the snow leopard population, which a 2023 nationwide survey estimated to be over 700 in India. Trained to use camera traps, the women collect crucial data, contributing to a recent survey that documented 83 snow leopards in the state, an increase from 51 in 2021. This initiative marks a shift in local attitudes, as communities increasingly recognize the snow leopard's vital role in the mountain ecosystem. The women's efforts are supported by organizations like the Nature Conservation Foundation.

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