Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:03am on 24 Sep 2026,Thursday India
Snow leopard tracking in Ladakh has been ranked the world’s fourth-best wildlife experience, scoring 85.5 out of 100 in Bailey Robinson’s Wildlife Experience Index. The index evaluated 30 wildlife encounters using six criteria: rarity, remoteness, conservation importance, exclusivity, accessibility and encounter potential. Ladakh followed mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, emperor penguin expeditions in Antarctica, and saiga antelope tracking in Kazakhstan, while ranking above Arctic polar bear expeditions. India’s Snow Leopard Population Assessment found 718 snow leopards nationwide, including 477 in Ladakh. The recognition highlights community-based conservation and responsible tourism, while increasing attention on protecting high-altitude habitats from tourism-related pressures. It underscores the importance of ensuring tourism benefits local communities. (PC: @sascha.fonseca/Instagram)
