Historic First! Rare Eurasian Lynx Spotted on Camera in Sikkim's High Himalayas

The elusive Eurasian lynx has been photographed for the first time in Sikkim , marking a historic breakthrough for Indian wildlife conservation. The camera trap image, captured in January 2026 at an altitude of 5,250 metres on the Tso Lhamo Plateau in Mangan district , represents only the second confirmed photographic record of the species in the entire Eastern Himalayas. The first documented image from the region was recorded in Arunachal Pradesh in 2025.

The landmark photograph was obtained during a long term snow leopard and rangeland monitoring programme jointly conducted by WWF India and the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department. The initiative tracks snow leopard populations and other high altitude wildlife while assessing the health of fragile trans Himalayan ecosystems. Officials said the discovery provides the first confirmed photographic evidence of the species in Sikkim, ending years of anecdotal reports about its presence in the state.

The Eurasian lynx is a medium sized wild cat recognised by its tufted ears, short tail, thick spotted coat and broad paws that help it survive in freezing mountain terrain. It is one of the most elusive predators in the Himalayas, making confirmed sightings exceptionally rare. In India, the species is also known from parts of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh , but records from the eastern Himalayas remain extremely limited.

Chief Wildlife Warden D Manjunatha called the discovery a proud moment for Sikkim, saying it highlights the ecological significance of the state's high altitude rangelands and strengthens efforts to protect these fragile ecosystems. Rishi Kumar Sharma , Head of the Himalayas Programme at WWF India, said the latest record confirms the lynx has a broader distribution across the eastern Himalayas than previously understood and underscores the need for sustained scientific monitoring.