A new dawn? Population baselines of snow leopards and other mammals of the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, India

Although the snow leopard is threatened, its population remains poorly understood across much of its range, making baselines essential for conservation. We used 44 camera traps in three valleys of Kishtwar High Altitude National Park (KHANP), Jammu & Kashmir, to estimate snow leopard numbers. Four unique individuals were identified, with up to nine possibly present. We also recorded 16 mammal species, including the Endangered Kashmir Musk Deer (Moschus cupreus); the Long‐tailed Marmot (Marmota caudata) was most abundant. Wildlife research in KHANP has been limited due to the region’s geopolitical history, but with renewed support from the Department of Wildlife Protection and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, focus on snow leopards as a flagship is increasing.