Researchers set out to study the snow leopard at a high altitude. What they found: A Bengal tiger

A camera trap with a timestamp from May 16 captured a Bengal tiger, making it one of the highest verified records of the species in this region. Forest officials estimate that this is the second sighting of a tiger in the Bageshwar division.

“Fresh tiger scat and local reports of large cats further supported the finding. Other species recorded included Himalayan serow, goral, barking deer, and additionally sambar deer at around 4,000 metres, revealing a healthy prey base even in these rugged mountain habitats,” the paper’s excerpt said.

The DFO of Bageshwar division, Aditya Ratna, said that same camera trap showed the tiger and sambar deer at different times, tying the presence of the tiger to the strong prey base. Ratna added that continued monitoring will help understand the reason for the sighting.

Officials are also analysing whether the presence was part of migration at a particular time of the year.

The project is being conducted in two phases and began in December 2024. The first phase ended in July, after which the image was retrieved, processed, and ascertained with further reports.

Currently, the second phase is underway, the results of which could answer questions on the nature of the movement of the big cat.

Rajat Joshi, a junior research fellow and a researcher in the project, said the study “focuses on conserving high-altitude biodiversity across the fragile alpine and subalpine zones of the Kumaon Himalayas habitats vital to the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), Himalayan musk deer, and a range of other mountain wildlife”.

A summary of the findings of the paper, which has been reviewed and is expected to be published in the IUCN Cat News, states that the project’s revelations reinforce the importance of protecting Himalayan habitats and maintaining ecological corridors that link lowland forests with the high mountains, ensuring the long-term survival of both snow leopards and tigers in a changing climate.

The lowland forests in the Terai region boast of high tiger density, with Corbett Tiger Reserve in Nainital alone recording 260 tigers. The divisions adjoining the reserve also record a sizable population, which is now estimated to have increased multi-fold since the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s All India Tiger Estimation in 2022.

The Jim Corbett National Park, along with the neighbouring Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, makes the critical tiger habitat of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. While Nainital lies adjacent to Almora, which has occasionally recorded tigers in high altitude regions, Bageshwar is further removed from the plains.

Although the camera traps captured the animal in May, the location’s inaccessibility rendered it difficult for the officials to retrieve and process data. This particular area is remote and accessible only by long treks through steep terrain.

According to the researcher, Joshi, fieldwork involves carrying out technical tasks such as camera trap installation, data retrieval, and habitat mapping, while simultaneously coordinating and managing field logistics, which includes arranging and hiring porters, arranging mules for equipment transport, and ensuring safety and communication in isolated regions.

Sunderdhunga means the valley of beautiful stones, owing to the boulders left by glaciers in the past. The valley currently has two glaciers, Maktoli and Sukhram.