International Snow Leopard Day Observed on 23 October 2026, Rooted in the 2013 Bishkek Declaration

23 October 2026National

International Snow Leopard Day, also called World Snow Leopard Day, was observed on 23 October 2026. The day traces to the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum held at Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, in 2013, where the 12 snow leopard range countries adopted the Bishkek Declaration and backed the launch of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme. It was first observed on 23 October 2014, and the UN General Assembly gave it formal recognition through Resolution A/RES/79/143 on 12 December 2024. The snow leopard (*Panthera uncia*) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and inhabits high-altitude Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan ranges.

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The 12 snow leopard range countries are India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Russia | India's Snow Leopard Population Assessment, released in 2024, estimated 718 snow leopards, with Ladakh holding the largest share | The snow leopard is a Schedule I species under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and Project Snow Leopard was launched in 2009

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