A trap camera in Chorgad of Gangotri National Park area captured the movement of a snow leopard for the first time alongside a common leopard on the Kedartal track. Park officials have deemed this encounter beneficial for biodiversity and highlighted the safety of the park area for snow leopards. During the four winter months from December to March when Gangotri National Park is closed to tourists, the park administration sets up trap cameras to monitor wildlife activity.
Last year, approximately 35 trap cameras were placed in various areas of the park, including Kedartal Track, Gangotri Track, Gartang Gali, Hamkya Nala, Hingoli Gad, Chorgad, Sunla, and Thangla. Some cameras have captured wildlife behavior during the winter, including a snow leopard on a wooden culvert in Chorgad on December 27 of the previous year.
According to Gangotri National Park Deputy Director Ranganath Pandey, the park is estimated to be home to around 38 to 40 snow leopards. He mentioned sightings of both snow leopards and common leopards in the Kedartal area.
Pandey noted that with limited human presence in Gangotri during the winter season, snow leopards and other wildlife freely roam the lower park areas without fear. However, when the park reopens and human activity increases, snow leopards tend to avoid these lower regions. Gangotri National Park serves as a natural habitat for snow leopards and hosts various other rare wildlife species such as brown bears, black bears, and Bharal.