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Himachal: Snow leopard falls into dam’s filter inlet in Kinnaur, rescued

A police team led by Kinnaur's Superintendent of Police another too of fire brigade too joined the rescue operations

3 min readShimlaNov 1, 2025 11:23 PM IST

The elusive big cat was found trapped into the filter inlet channel of the 120-MW Sanjay Hydroelectric Project following which officials alerted the forest department and the local police

A snow leopard was successfully released into the wild Saturday after being rescued from the dam site of a hydroelectric project in Bhabanagar area of Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur, officials said.

The elusive big cat was found trapped into the filter inlet channel of the 120-MW Sanjay Hydroelectric Project following which officials alerted the forest department and the local police.

Teams from Kinnaur and Rampur forest divisions rushed to the site. A police team led by Kinnaur’s Superintendent of Police another too of fire brigade too joined the rescue operations.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rampur, Gursharan Singh, said, “A multi-layered rescue plan was out in place prioritiing the animal’s safety. We wanted the snow leopard to climb out on its own, with tranquilization considered only as a last resort. After initial hesitation, the big cat climbed out on its own, took a walk along the parapet before heading into the nearby forest”.

He further said, “Snow leopards are typically found in the dry trans-Himalayan zones such as the Hangrang Valley. Their presence in the mid-wet zone of the Bhaba Valley marks a significant ecological expansion, indicating strong habitat connectivity and a positive trend in biodiversity health”.

The state forest department last month had released the second snow leopard assessment report, noting that the highly endangered big cat’s population had jumped to 83 from 51 recorded in 2021.

During the comprehensive population estimation, conducted in partnership with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), 271 camera traps were set up across the 26,000 sq km habitat of the snow leopards in Spiti Valley, Kinnaur, Pangi, Lahaul and Greater National Himalayan Park (GNHP).

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The researchers identified 44 individual adult snow leopards from 262 independent detections across six sites. They included 12 individual snow leopards from 90 detections in Upper Spiti Landscape, 6 individuals from 46 detections in Tabo, 8 individuals with 35 detections in Pin and 9 individuals from 58 detections in Kinnaur. “From the low occupancy stratum, Lahaul-Pangi had 8 individual snow leopards from 32 detections, and GHNP had one,” it said.

The survey also detected snow leopards outside protected areas such as Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Great Himalayan National Park, Sechu Tuan Nala Wildlife Sanctuary, and Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary.

The survey had put snow leopard density at 0.16 to 0.53 individuals per 100 square km.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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