Stanford Study Reveals Snow Leopards Have Lowest Genetic Diversity Among Big Cats

The snow leopard, a rare big cat found across 12 Asian countries including India, has the lowest genetic diversity among all big cats. A 2025 study by Stanford University, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analysed whole-genome data from 37 snow leopards. It revealed that their low genetic diversity stems from a long history of small population sizes rather than recent inbreeding. This unique genetic trait affects their survival and adaptability in a rapidly changing environment.

Genetic Diversity and Evolutionary History

Snow leopards show the lowest heterozygosity among big cats, even less than cheetahs, previously considered the least genetically diverse. Their small population size over evolutionary time led to the natural removal of harmful mutations, a process called purging. This purging means snow leopards carry fewer dangerous genetic defects despite low diversity. Their inbreeding coefficient is higher than most big cats but does not explain their low genetic variation.

Implications of Low Genetic Diversity

Low genetic diversity limits the species’ ability to adapt to new threats such as diseases, climate change, and habitat alterations. Although purging has helped maintain health in the past, future environmental changes could pose severe challenges. The snow leopard’s small population size increases vulnerability to extinction risks from human activities and ecological shifts.

Conservation Status and Threats

Snow leopards were downgraded from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’ in 2017 due to population estimates between 4,500 and 7,500 individuals. Their habitat spans Asia’s high mountain ecosystems, crucial for carbon storage and water supply to nearly two billion people. Threats include climate change, habitat loss, prey decline, retaliatory killings, and poaching. Infrastructure development near international borders further fragments their habitat.

Snow Leopard Population in India

India hosts around 718 snow leopards, about 10-15% of the global population. Most reside in Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Jammu and Kashmir. India ranks third after China and Mongolia in snow leopard numbers, making it key for conservation efforts. However, genetic studies in India remain limited due to bureaucratic and logistical challenges.

Conservation Efforts and Community Involvement

India’s Project Snow Leopard and NGOs like the Nature Conservation Foundation have worked for nearly three decades to protect snow leopards. Local communities play a vital role in conservation across Himalayan states. Maintaining habitat integrity is critical to sustaining populations. Large infrastructure projects and climate-induced disasters threaten these fragile ecosystems, making coordinated conservation essential.

Research Challenges and Future Directions

Collecting genetic samples is difficult due to strict permissions and funding mismatches. International collaboration enabled the Stanford study to gather sufficient data. Similar efforts are needed within India to understand local genetic diversity. Respecting both the landscape and local communities is vital for the species’ survival amid environmental and human pressures.