In a major breakthrough for wildlife conservation, scientists have successfully fitted GPS collars on four wild snow leopards in the Himalayas, providing an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of one of the world’s most elusive big cats, often called the “Ghosts of the Himalayas.”

The collars will allow researchers to track the animals’ movements, home ranges, habitat use, hunting behaviour and interactions with human settlements. The data is expected to strengthen conservation planning, reduce human-wildlife conflict and help identify critical habitats that need protection.

Researchers believe the findings could also boost responsible wildlife tourism by improving the chances of spotting snow leopards in the wild while ensuring that tourism remains sustainable and does not disturb the animals or their fragile mountain ecosystem.

The project marks a significant step towards understanding and conserving one of the planet’s most mysterious and endangered predators, whose populations remain sparse across the high-altitude landscapes of the Himalayas.