Snow Leopard Spotted for the First Time in Himachal’s Kinnaur; Rescued from Dam Site

A rare snow leopard, typically found in high, snow-clad mountain ranges, was sighted for the first time in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district on Saturday.

The animal was discovered trapped inside the filter inlet of the Sanjay Hydroelectric Project’s dam at Bhaba Nagar, a 120 MW power facility. Project officials immediately alerted the Forest Department.

Bhaba Nagar Range Officer Parmanand Darekh rushed to the site with his team. A rescue squad from the Forest Department’s Rampur office, along with the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Kinnaur and a fire department unit from Bhaba Nagar, also joined the operation.

An initial attempt to pull the leopard out using a ladder by the fire crew was unsuccessful. The forest officials then employed local rescue techniques, managing to safely free the animal without any equipment or injury. After the rescue, the snow leopard was seen returning to the nearby forest.

According to the Forest Department, snow leopards are generally found only in high-altitude, snow-covered regions, and their presence in Kinnaur had never been recorded before.

Officials said the sighting indicates that snow leopards are expanding their range into the Bhaba Valley, which they described as a positive sign for biodiversity in the region.