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Snow Leopard
The snow leopard (Rchan or Shan) inhabits the hills and vales of central Asia. An adult leopard weighs 35-55 kg, stands about
60 cm at the shoulder, and measures about 2 m from head to the tip of the tail. Its fur is smoky-grey with dark rosettes,
and it has a long bushy tail, which is used for balancing in treacherous cliffs, and also to wrap around its face for warmth
during winter. This charismatic animal is, however, so elusive that it is referred to as the grey ghost, and has attained
almost a mythical status.
The snow leopard evokes awe and excitement amongst those who catch a glimpse of the animal. If lion is the king of the
jungle, snow leopard rules the lofty mountains. Perhaps one of the least studied species amongst all the large cats, it occurs
in 12 central Asian countries. Amongst these range countries, China is thought to harbour the highest number of wild snow
leopards. Nevertheless, the population is highly fragmented, and is dwindling apace throughout its range.
The estimated global population of snow leopard is 3500-7000, while about 500 individuals are estimated to live in the
Indian Trans-Himalaya that largely encompasses Ladakh, Spiti and Sikkim. Besides these, there are about 500 individuals in
various zoos around the world. The status of the snow leopard is thus precarious through its entire range. Presently, it is
protected by several international and national treaties. There is a ban on the international trade in snow leopard and its
body parts, as it is an Appendix I species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES).
Snow leopards are solitary, and mark their territories largely by spraying urine against overhanging rocks. It occupies
rugged terrain where it has ample stalking cover to hunt sure-footed wild ungulates. It is known to kill prey species three
times of its size. The cat is generally found at high elevations ranging from 3700-5300 m during summer, but come down in
winter in pursuit of its prey that feed on lower mountain slopes during this season. Snow leopard usually walks along ridgelines
searching for potential prey. Within Ladakh there is a high abundance of snow leopard in the southern and western parts, which
are more rugged. The Zangskar Range including the Hemis National Park is the stronghold of snow leopard in Ladakh.
All across the leopard's range in central Asia, the major threat to its survival comes from the declining prey-base constituted
by the wild sheep and goats. In Ladakh, the blue sheep (Nabo) and the Asiatic ibex (Skin) are its most preferred prey species.
Usurpation of their habitats for agriculture and livestock production is thought to be the main cause of decline in the populations
of these mountain ungulates. Furthermore, myriad developmental activities such as road construction disturb their habitats
and make them more accessible to poachers.
Notwithstanding the shyness and stealth of the snow leopard, it is being hunted ruthlessly for its much-valued skin and
bones. Huge numbers of snow leopard skin are sold in the international market every year, where one pelt is valued at about
Rs. 100,000. The animal's bone has also immense use in the traditional Chinese medicine, and the value of its bone has increased
after the ban on tiger bone. In the Tibetan medicine it is believed to cure kidney related problems. Furthermore, its meat
is considered as an aphrodisiac in many central Asian countries. It has also been reportedly served as an exotic dish in a
restaurant in Sichuan, China.
Snow leopard is also in conflict with the pastoralists through most of its range, as the cat occasionally kills domestic
livestock. Sometimes, the pastoralists resort to retaliatory killing, which is a major concern to the leopard conservationists.
Many organisations like the International Snow Leopard Trust and the Snow Leopard Conservancy are making concerted efforts
to reduce this conflict by encouraging and assisting the pastoralists in building leopard proof corrals, where it occasionally
enters and kill a large number of sheep and goats in one go. However, these efforts are focussed on certain key areas for
the leopard and need to be expanded in all the potential snow leopard habitats.
Given all these threats, survival prospects of the snow leopard is bleak all across its range. The long-term persistence
of the relic population in the Indian Trans-Himalaya is also questionable due largely to the burgeoning human population,
modern developmental initiatives and the consequent encroachment of its habitat. Nevertheless, prudent conservation efforts
may help in recovering the population; the snow leopards, which bring life to the mountains of Ladakh, need your help. If
we were to bequeath some of the natural wealth to our grand grandsons, it is high time that we stopped squandering our rich
natural legacy.
Brown Bear
The Himalayan brown bear (Denmo) is a very robust animal inhabiting hills and valleys of the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region.
They have large body with powerful limbs that terminate in broad paws with five non-retractable claws, which are mainly used
for ripping and digging. The animals have tapering muzzle and round ears, and have excellent senses of smell and hearing.
They have dense, shaggy fur, which is dark brown sometimes with a silver tinge. The males are bulkier than the females, and
weigh up to 200 kgs.
Brown bears can walk on their hindfeet, and leave gigantic and almost human-like footprints. According to its believers,
even the Himalayan Yeti leaves a large human like imprint in the snow. A Japanese researcher, working in Nepal and Bhutan
for more than a decade, trying to bust the myth of the Yeti opines that the Himalayan Yeti or the abominable snowman is nothing
more than a Himalayan brown bear, although efforts are still on to shed further light on this.
Bears are solitary, and maintains territories extending over 100 km2. They prowl during dawn and dusk, and travel over
large territories searching for food. Brown bears are omnivorous, feeding on a range of plants and animals. Their principal
food sources however include plant roots, berries, nuts, grains, pikas (Zabra) and marmots (Phia). They dig out these small
mammals from their burrows. When other food sources in the wild are depleted, they also feast on livestock, which leads to
a conflict of interest between bears and humans. They even feed on carcasses of wild ungulates such as Asiatic ibex (Skyin).
There are however several myths around the brown bear's food habit. For example, many people in Zangskar believe that
there are two types of bear: carnivorous (Sha-Den) and herbivorous (Rtsa-Den), and it is the former that attacks humans. In
reality there is only one type of bear, and that is omnivorous, as mentioned earlier, and feed opportunistically on plants
and animals.
During summer, the animals frequent alpine areas up to 5,700 m asl, but descend to lower areas in autumn, during which
they break into ration stores, damage crops and kill domestic sheep and goats. The animals retreat into caves in early November
to hibernate. Nevertheless, bear is not a true hibernator, for its body temperature drops only by a few degrees below normal
and the heart rate slows only slightly unlike in true hibernators, whose body temperatures drop to near ambient and heart
rate slows drastically. In any case, the animals come out of their winter lairs in April the following year.
The brown bear ventures north of the main Himalayan crest into the southwestern part of Ladakh. Rangdum, Abran, Parkachik,
Nun Kun (Suru Valley), Dras and Dibling (Trans-Singge La) are some of the areas where the bear can be spotted. There are no
more than 100 brown bears in Ladakh, and the animal's potential habitat is spread over c. 5,000 km2. However, the information
on the status and distribution of the animal in the region is very rudimentary. At any rate, it is a species of global conservation
importance, and is listed by CITES under Appendix I.
Currently, the major threats to the bear's survival come from poaching for its fur, claws and internal organs for medicines,
habitat loss and to a less extent from retaliatory killings by herders. Brown bears are despised by the people in Zangskar,
for the animals when aroused tend to attack humans. There is even an account of a foreign tourist being mauled by a bear in
Photoksar, apparently provoked by the flash of a camera. The animals are otherwise shy and aloof, and encounters are rare.
Often conflicts arise when bear regards a human as immediate threat to its cubs, e.g., when a human gets between a mother
and her cubs. When encountered a bear, one always needs to a keep a low profile and avoid looking directly into its eyes.
It is believed that the best strategy of escaping unscathed by a bear is to retrace one's own path, or become passive and
lie down on the ground, making the bear lose interest. Another reportedly effective escape strategy is constantly maintaing
an obstacle such as a boulder in the bear's way, as a person is quicker around the obstacle, increasing the distance between
him/her and the bear, eventually leading to the latter's disinterest in the pursuit.
In sum, brown bears are at odds with humans, as the former damage crops, livestock, destory ration stores, and occasionally
attack people. All these exacerbates the conservation challenge of the brown bear in Ladakh as well as other Himalyan range
states. Nevertheless, they play a vital role in ecosystem functioning. For example, they keep the rodent (e.g., Phia) and
lagomorph (e.g., Zabra) populations low, thereby averting large scale pasture degradation, and its adverse impacts on the
environment.
Tibetan Antelope
The Tibetan antelope or Chiru (Rtsos) is a graceful animal adapted to the highlands of Tibet. There is a controversy over
the taxonomic status of the species, as some taxonomists categorize it as an antelope, while others contend that it is closer
to the goats. At any rate, the animal has a blunt and enlarged muzzle with big nostrils, perhaps an adaptation to the thin
air of its high altitude habitat. The adult males have a shoulder height of about 80 cm, and weigh 35-40 kg, while the females
are smaller. The upper body is sandy rufous, while the underparts are creamy white.
Chiru is the only genus of large mammal endemic to the Tibetan plateau. Its geographical range on the plateau encompasses
c. 1,600 km2. The animal usually inhabits open and rolling uplands generally above 4000 m asl. These highlands are swept bare
by a relentless wind, and the vegetation cover hardly crosses 20 % in most of its range. Aksai Chin and Chhang Chhenmo valley
of Ladakh are the only places outside China where small populations totaling not more than 250 Chirus occur.
The Tibetan antelope is a mixed feeder, as it forages on both grasses and forbs, although the females and young feed exclusively
on the later. Because of the migratory behaviour of the animal, a census for yielding a reliable estimate of its population
has been problematic. However, about 70,000 individuals are thought to occur on the Tibetan plateau, although fragmented into
small populations scattered throughout the plateau.
The sexes segregate during summer, as the adult females migrate northwards to the calving grounds, traveling about 300
km. Some also speculate that the animal migrates to the northern colder areas during summer to avoid botflies. In any case,
early explorers marveled at thousands upon thousands of Chiru does and young moving across the plateau. Almost 20,000 animals
visible at a time, they described it a veritable wonder of the biological world. But such a migratory spectacle, akin to that
of the present day migration of the wildebeest in eastern Africa, remains a dream, thanks to the poachers that mercilessly
killed this dainty animal in huge numbers.
The Chiru is being slaughtered brutally for the much valued wool, known as Shahtoosh (Rtsoskhul), which is one of the
finest natural fibers in the world. Shahtoosh (Persian Shah means king and Toosh means wool) is smuggled out to Kashmir and
woven into exquisite scarves and shawls, which are exported to the developed countries. The price of these products range
from US $ 2,000 to 10,000 in the international market, but reaches as high as US $ 40,000. Shahtoosh is also smuggled out
through Ladakh, although the level has gone down in the recent years.
Those involved in smuggling the wool, and selling the finished products duped the customers, especially in the west by
telling that the shawls are made from fibers collected from bushes and boulders, while in reality three animals need to be
killed for making one shawl, as an adult Chiru yield only 150 gm of Shahtoosh.
Although there are reported incidences of the raw Shahtoosh exported to the European countries, it is usually the finished
products that leave the shores of India. Many traders also barter this "king of the wool" for other wildlife products
such as tiger bones from India. The Shahtoosh trade flourished in India for centuries largely due to a lack of strict regulatory
mechanism to curb it. Its trade was estimated to be worth US $ 160 million in the year 1997. However, recognizing the need
to protect Chiru, the country however started a major crackdown in the late 1990s, spearheaded by the Wildlife Protection
Society of India. Large numbers of Shahtoosh products were confiscated, and wool consignments were seized in the recent years.
Recently, the Government of India banned Shahtoosh trade, which jeopardized the livelihood of thousands of workers in
Kashmir who were involved in the Shahtoosh industry. Subsequently, the government urged the Shahtoosh workers to switch over
to Pashmina or Cashmere wool work, which entails increasing Pashmina production in Changthang to meet the demands of an increased
work force in the industry. Therefore, currently there is major emphasis on Pashmina production. But the rangeland conditions
are deteriorating in Changthang, which needs immediate attention from the rangeland scientists.
Apart from the underwool, the horns of the animals are believed to have medicinal properties. For example, the horns mixed
with other ingredients are known to kill bacteria and cure diarrhea. The use of Chiru horns for this purpose increased after
the Saiga antelope, an important species whose horn was used for the purpose, went extinct in China in the 1950s.
The animal once had a haven in the northwestern part of the Tibetan plateau, where good population of the Chiru existed,
but all that have changed as more and more pastoral people intruded the animal's habitat to eke out a living. Thus, curtailment
or the destruction of habitat by livestock graziers affected the Chiru population over the years. However, the competition
with domestic livestock for meager resources is a major issue of contention.
Gold mining and oil drilling are the other important threats that if unchecked may substantially contribute towards driving
the species to extinction. The gold prospectors indulge in hunting the animal for meat as well as leisure. Moreover, the gold
mining pollutes the water with arsenic, lead etc. Besides these anthropogenic pressures, natural calamities also take a heavy
toll on Chiru population. For example, hundreds of animals get killed by snow storms during severe winters. Thus, the animal's
status is very precarious, and an effective conservation program is hindered by lack of ecological information on the species.
Tibetan gazelle
The Tibetan gazelle (Gowa) is a small antelope inhabiting the open plains of Changthang. The body of the animal is grayish
brown with a short, black-tipped tail in the center of a heart-shaped white rump-patch. The thin and long legs of this elegant
animal enhance its running skill, which is required to escape from predators. So swift and agile are these animals that when
disturbed they bounce like rubber balls on the open plains of Changthang. Gazelle is a small ruminant, and has a high metabolic
rate. Therefore, it needs to forage on highly nutritious plants.
The Tibetan gazelle is endemic to the Tibetan plateau, and its population extends into the Indian Changthang. Through
most of its range, the population density seldom crosses 0.13 animals/km2. Within Ladakh, its distribution was spread as far
as the Tsokar Basin in the beginning of the 20th century, but today it is confined to the Hanle Valley and the neighbouring
areas such as Chumur.
The most recent estimate suggests that there are not more than 100 individuals left in a total area of 100 km2 in the
aforesaid area of eastern Ladakh. Therefore, the species is on the brink of extinction in India, and currently the species
is protected as a Schedule I animal under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
Illegal hunting and competition with domestic livestock, especially the sheep and goats decimated its population. The
gazelle's preference for open areas that are accessible to vehicles made it more vulnerable to hunters. Furthermore, research
results indicate that gazelles compete with domestic sheep and goat for rangeland resources.
The livestock population of Changthang increased almost two-fold in the last three decades, which led to impoverishment
of the rangelands. The pasture conditions in the gazelle range further deteriorated following the influx of the Tibetan refugees,
popularly known as TR, with their livestock. The improved health facilities and supplemental feeding to the livestock during
severe winters further increased the livestock population, putting more pressure on the rangelands.
Presently gazelles are suffering not only from poor pasture conditions, but also from problems associated with small populations
such as lack of genetic diversity in the population, which makes them less resistant to diseases. Thus, its current status
in Ladakh is precarious, and it is of paramount importance to facilitate a recovery program for the small population in the
Hanle area to maintain the unique biodiversity of Changthang. Its long-term survival, however, hinges on the development of
appropriate conservation strategies in consultation with the conservation agencies as well as the local communities. Lets
all hope that the gazelles roam the plains of Changthang for centuries to come.
Tibetan argali
The Tibetan argali (Nyan) is the largest wild sheep in the world, standing 3.5 to 4 feet at the shoulder with the horn measuring
90-100 cm. The animal is light brown with its rump, throat, chest and belly white. It is distributed on the Tibetan plateau
and its marginal mountains encompassing a total area of 2.5 million km2. But argali occurs in small pockets scattered all
across this huge area. The animal prefers open and rolling terrain as it runs, unlike wild goats that climb into steep cliffs,
to escape from predators.
The Tibetan argali is a Schedule I animal under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, and also an Appendix I species
under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Today, there are not more
than 7000 individuals left in the wild. India has an estimated population of about 200 individuals with most of them occurring
in Ladakh and few in Sikkim.
The best population within Ladakh is in the Gya-Miru and the neighbouring Tsokar area. Located at the western fringe of
the Tibetan plateau, this area has a unique and diverse assemblage of flora and fauna. The population of argali, once widespread
in eastern Ladakh, has become highly fragmented, as it declined dramatically in the last century. Chumur, Kuyul, Chhang Chhenmo,
Tigermale and the Rumbak catchment in the Hemis National Park are some of the other areas in Ladakh with small and declining
populations of this endangered sheep.
Owing to the huge horns, argali is an attractive animal to the trophy hunters, and were highly persecuted in the past.
These rich, western hunters visited Ladakh in the past to obtain an argali head to deck their living rooms back home. Gya-Miru
and the Chhang Chhenmo areas of eastern Ladakh were popular destinations for them. Besides this, wanton shooting by the army
personnel in the border areas was also perceived to be a cause of its decline in the past. Nevertheless, recognising the need
to protect the animal, trophy hunting was restricted in India in the 1970s, and the recent army directives have also put an
end to its hunting.
Therefore, today the major threat to the species' survival comes from the increasing domestic livestock population, mainly
the abundant sheep and goat. Recent studies have shown that the argali face resource competition from the domestic ungulates,
and it gets pushed into sub-optimal habitats due to the intensive grazing by the latter.
It is imperative to safeguard the future of this wild sheep to maintain the unique biodiversity of Ladakh. Argali is also
an aesthetically important species, which if protected in good numbers may attract wildlife enthusiasts in the near future.
Presently, several conservation agencies are involved in conserving the animal with the help of local communities. If careful
conservation measures are not taken well in time, it may soon leap on to the list of extinct species in India.
Asiatic ibex
Asiatic ibex (Skyin) is a majestic wild goat inhabiting long mountain systems in central Asian deserts. The animal is 80-100
cm high at shoulder, and weighs an average 60 kg. The adult males have long pointed beards and scimitar-shaped horns with
prominent ridges on the frontal surface. The coat is dark brown with greyish underparts, and a dorsal stripe runs from the
neck to tail. Adult males also have grey saddle patches on their backs. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, as the females
are smaller with small straight horns that are widely separated at the base.
Asiatic ibex, also known as Himalayan ibex, is widely distributed over an area stretching from the Hindu-Kush Mountains
in Afghanistan to Sayan Mountains in Mongolia. The animals are found most frequently at elevations ranging from 3000 to 5300
m above sea level, but are also known to occur in areas as low as 1000 m in the Altai Mountains. They have a predilection
for rugged terrain as an anti-predator strategy.
Within Indian limits, it occurs in the Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Ladakh is home to c.
6,000 individuals; hence ibex is the second most abundant wild ungulate in the province after the blue sheep (Nabo). The species
is distributed in the serrated mountains of the Zangskar Range. The Shun Gorge in Zangskar marks the eastern boundary of its
distribution in Ladakh, while along the main Himalayan crest the species distribution continues eastward up to the Sutlej
River. Some of the best places in Ladakh where the animal can be spotted are Zangskar, Sham and Nubra.
As alluded to earlier, ibex is a stocky ungulate with strong legs, built for negotiating precipitous cliffs. When the
animals sense danger, the sentry, usually a female gives a shrilling alarm call and all flee into the cliffs with spryness.
This charismatic goat is thus unbelievably agile and intrepid. No wonder that it is the emblem of the Ladakh Scouts, whose
bravery is unrivaled in the military world.
The goat feeds on small herbs and grasses. During summer they eat a wider range of plant species, while the availability
of forage plants declines in winter due to heavy snow, which the animal digs to uncover the buried herbs. They usually forage
in the morning and evening, and rest during midday. Ibex is a very important prey species of the highly endangered snow leopard
(Rchan). The other major predators of the animal include Tibetan wolf (Shangku), Dhole (Phara) and Eurasian lynx (Ee).
Ibex was hunted heavily in the past by both trophy and pot hunters. In fact, the hunting pressure was so high that the
species is thought to have gone locally extinct from several areas in southwestern Ladakh. The other important threats to
the species' survival come from overgrazing of pastures by migratory grazers (Bakkarwals) in the Suru Valley, loss of habitat
due to construction of roads such as the ones in the Umba and Kanji wildlife sanctuaries in the Kargil district. Currently,
the species is protected as a Schedule I animal under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
Nonetheless, many scientists believe that the species is relatively less threatened from the domestic livestock as well
as hunters due to the species' high affinity towards rugged terrain, which is less accessible to humans, but this need to
be proved. On the contrary, there have been recent reports on the decline of its population due to excessive grazing by livestock,
as alluded to earlier. In any case, protective measures need to be taken to safeguard the future of this elegant goat. However,
for any conservation effort to be effective, the ecological information on the species is crucial. Currently the information
on its ecology is very rudimentary, especially for the Ladakh region, thus there is an urgent need to conduct scientific research
in order to protect this species for posterity.
Ladakh urial
Ladakh urial (Shapo or Shalugu) is an elegant wild sheep inhabiting the mountainous tracts of the Hindu-Kush and the Western
Trans-Himalayan Mountains that largely encompasses the Ladakh Region. The animal is about 80 cm high at the shoulder, and
weighs an average 65 kg. The coat colour of the upper parts of the animal's body is rufous grey, while the underparts and
the legs are whitish. The rams have small black ruff and imposing horns which they flaunt to attract the females.
Ladakh urial is a highly endangered animal with global conservation importance, as it is endemic to Ladakh where its population
is estimated at c. 2000 individuals. It is distributed along two major river valleys: Indus and Shayok, encompassing an area
of c. 3000 km2. The species is severely threatened, and is listed on the Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act
of 1972, and is on the Appendix I of the CITES.
The altitudinal range of urial occurrence in Ladakh is 3000-4200 m, within which it inhabits a variety of habitats such
as open alluvial fans along the banks of the Indus River and Shayok rivers, and rugged terrain of the mountain range along
the tributary streams of Indus. Thus, it is apparent that urial is relatively flexible in its habitat use. The animal can
best be seen in the vicinity of Lamayuru, Fotola, Miru and in the Hemis (Shukpachan) Gorge of the western Ladakh.
There are reports by early explorers and naturalists of interbreeding between the Ladakh urial and the Tibetan argali
(Snyan). For example, there is an account of an argali ram taking possession of a herd of urial ewes, and siring several lambs
before the ram was killed by a wolf. Another naturalist also observed an urial-argali hybrid, which was called Snyan-Sha by
the locals, in a group of argali. These are interesting observations, because species evolve morphological and behavioural
differences to avoid interbreeding.
Today the Ladakh urial faces several threats. The sprawling developmental activities, especially along the Indus River
have pushed the animals from the open alluvial fans to higher rugged mountains. For example, the species once grazed the alluvial
fans near Stok on the left bank of the Indus River, but the constructions of canals and roads and associated activities pushed
this dainty animal to sub-optimal habitats in the cliffy areas, which severely affected the population in several parts of
Ladakh.
The Ladakh urial also suffered from high persecution by illegal pot hunters because of its distribution along the Srinagar-Leh
highway. India's war with the neighbouring Pakistan and China led to a major influx of military personnel into Ladakh, and
urial borne the brunt of heavy onslaught by an under-provisioned force in a hostile environment. Besides these, trophy hunters
also took their toll on urial population.
Recent implementation of conservation laws have enabled a population recovery, and the species is coming back in several
parts, albeit slowly, to occupy its previous range. Nevertheless, all is not well; the sheep are despised by local farmers
in the agro-pastoral areas of Ladakh because they allegedly damage crops like barley and green peas, thereby exacerbating
the conservation challenge. Unfortunately, the existing protected areas (national parks and sanctuaries) in Ladakh do not
protect a substantial population of the sheep.
In sum, urial is endemic to Ladakh, and today it faces a plethora of threats that may jeopardise its survival in the region.
The construction of roads and irrigation canals along the major valleys in Ladakh has been detrimental to its survival. Currently,
the animal is protected as a globally threatened species, and conservation measures are being taken to protect the species.
Nevertheless, it has become apparent over the years that the species cannot be conserved without the involvement of the local
communities that share its habitat. The few small populations that survive in the remotest areas could be attributed to the
abhorrence of Ladakhi people towards hunting due to religious sentiments, which however is vanishing because of the invading
materialism. May all sentient beings be happy!
Blue Sheep
The blue sheep (Sna or Nabo) is a unique mountain ungulate that is placed between sheep and goat as it displays sheep as well
as goat-like characteristics. For example, it has a flat tail with bare central surface, lacks facial glands, and during combats
the rams rear up and clash their horns like goats, while they lack a beard and rub their faces to the rump of their rivals,
which are characteristic features of sheep. Thus it represents a connecting link between sheep and goats, and perhaps can
be called Ramalug in colloquial Ladakhi! An adult blue sheep measures 3 feet high at the shoulder, weighs about 60 kg and
has handle-bar horns measuring an average 24 inches.
The general body color is brownish grey, suffused with slaty-blue, which blends well with the surrounding landscape. The
blue sheep is thus so well camouflaged that only well trained eyes can locate it in the rocky environment of its habitat.
The underparts and back of the legs are whitish, while the fronts of the legs and the chest are dark, which intensify with
age. In adults there are dark bands running along the lower parts of the flanks. The age of the animal could be ascertained
by counting the rings on the horns.
The blue sheep is a sturdy animal with strong muscular legs that help it in climbing steep cliffs, which are used as refuge
against predators. This makes the animal unique amongst the Asiatic wild sheep that generally run away from predators. The
blue sheep graze on the open alpine pastures within an altitudinal range of 3500-5500 m, but keep closer to precipitous cliffs
for protection. They however exhibit an altitudinal migration by coming down to lower elevations during winter, when males
and females congregate on the rutting grounds. The rams and ewes, however, go their separate ways during summer, a phenomenon
called sexual segregation. Blue sheep lives in groups ranging from 2-200 individuals or sometimes more. The animals have an
acute sense of sight and smell and, when disturbed, the sentinel blows a whistle through its nostrils and all run for cover
in the cliffs.
The animal is distributed on the Tibetan plateau and the peripheral areas including Ladakh, Spiti, Uttaranchal, Sikkim
and Arunachal Pradesh in India, but also in Nepal and Bhutan. The blue sheep is the most abundant wild ungulate in Ladakh,
where circa 11,000 individuals are estimated. It has a peculiar distribution in the region, mostly occurring in the areas
to the south of Indus River, although it is found on both sides of the Indus in the Changthang area upstream from Liktse.
It is also found along the Ladakh Range but only on the northern flank. At any rate, the Khalatse area marks the western boundary
of its distribution in Ladakh. The species is relatively abundant through its entire range, thus it is assigned a "Low
Risk" in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List of Threatened Animals.
In China the blue sheep is, however, hunted for its meat, which apart from local consumption is also exported to the international
markets in Europe. Within Ladakh, the military personnel as well as local poachers hunted the species in remote areas in the
past, which may have led to the decline in its population. However, currently conservation laws have put an end to its hunting,
although rare poaching incidence may still happen in remote areas. It was also hunted for the trophy, but to a lesser extent
compared to the Tibetan argali (Nyan). Presently the species is on odds with the traditional farmers in the agro-pastoral
areas of Ladakh, because the animals occasionally damage crops like barley (Nas) and green peas (Sranma). This is a major
problem in areas where agriculture is the major land use option. Although, incidences of retaliatory persecution by farmers
are rare, putting fences around the fields that are their major haunts could alleviate this problem.
Furthermore, the species is blamed for pasture degradation in areas where it occurs in high abundance. But there is little
realization that the body parts of blue sheep have life saving properties, and thus have immense use in the traditional Tibetan
medicine. For example, the horns of the animal could be used for the preparation of antibiotics, and the bones are used for
drying up lymph and pus. The hair of the animal is believed to cure poisoning related ailments.
In sum, although the species is the most successful and thus abundant wild ungulate in Ladakh, given the aforementioned
threats the long- term survival is little uncertain. Thus innovative ways need to be found out to protect this species, as
it represents an important genetic source that could be exploited to improve the future breeds of our livestock. Furthermore,
the wild ungulates sacrifice their lives to keep the predators away from their domestic counterparts! If their populations
are decimated, the wild predators won't have any choice other than turning to the domestic ungulates. Thus, the people need
to realize that wild ungulates play vital roles in maintaining an ecological balance. The food web of nature is quite complex,
and if one link is taken out, its effect will cascade down until the entire system crumbles. The blue sheep is an integral
part of our fragile ecosystem, and lets all hope that it clings to the cliffs for epochs to come!
Tibetan Wild Ass
The Tibetan wild ass or Kiang is the largest wild ass, with some stallions standing 1.4 m tall and weighing up to 400 kg.
The colour is auburn with white belly, chest and legs, and the sexes are almost alike. It is an odd toed animal, and is thus
categorised as Perissodactyl, which include animals like horses, zebras, rhinos and tapirs. The species is allied to the Asiatic
wild ass or Khur, which occurs in the drier parts of Gujarat.
The Tibetan wild ass is distributed on the Tibetan plateau and its peripheral areas of Nepal and Indian Changthang, where
it inhabits the wide open valleys. The global estimate of the kiang population is c. 70,000, while Ladakh just has a small
population of c. 2,500. Thus, although the kiang is relatively abundant on the Tibetan plateau, it faces several threats especially
from human endeavours. Its population is presently declining in several parts of its range. Therefore, kiang is put on the
schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
Kiang is a very fascinating animal; on close approach, it runs away a short distance, turns around and gazes with curiosity.
They often feed in small groups of less than 15 individuals, but also form larger groups during summer when the resources
are abundant. On a trip to Changthang, kiang is the only animal that is visible at close quarters. They gallop on the tawny
tablelands of Changthang, and make them vibrant. How deserted and empty would it look, if these animals were to go extinct
from these desolate plains?
In the last century, some nomadic people along with the military personnel hunted several species in some parts of Changthang.
The kiang however survived this human onslaught, probably because it is not an attractive source of meat. Nevertheless, there
was a small group of people called Kiangzens who ate the animal.
According to a popular belief, the disappearance of Kiangzens and the associated reduced hunting of the animal in the
recent years led to an explosion of its population, which has become a cause of concern to the pastoralists. Many Changpas
also claim that due to the continued hunting of kiang in some areas across the border in China, the animals migrate into the
Indian Territory to take refuge, thereby further increasing the population.
The lack of reliable data on the kiang population in Changthang in the recent past is however a major obstacle in making
any inference regarding the increase in its population. It is possible that earlier the animals were more dispersed in the
mountains, but with the degradation of pastures in the higher reaches, they currently tend to concentrate along the riverine
pastures, thereby giving a false impression of high abundance to the local populace.
Unlike ruminants such as the Tibetan gazelle, the kiang has an inefficient digestive system with a faster passage rate
of food through its digestive tract. Therefore, the animal needs to eat more to obtain the necessary nutrients from the poor
quality forage of Changthang, which agitates the pastoralists. While some people realize that the kiang is being ousted out
of its own heath, others strongly militate against the animal damaging their pastures, and are in favour of annihilating the
species from the region.
There is also an administrative apathy towards kiang conservation. Maintaining and improving rangelands for livestock
production is the primary concern for the local administration, while the welfare of the wild animals is neglected. Although,
it is understandable given the presently low or no economic returns from the wild animals, people need to realize that these
animals enhance the ecotourism potential of the area. Therefore, they need to be viewed as commercial asset rather than a
burden. The ostensible thaw in the relationship between India and China may soon lead to opening restricted areas of Changthang
to tourists providing new economic opportunities to the Changpas.
At any rate, it is of utmost importance to protect the overall ecosystem of Changthang that encompasses the nomads, domestic
livestock, kiang and other wild animals, plants and their vital dynamics. If such a conservation goal is accomplished, the
pastoral way of life and the unique biodiversity of Changthang will be secured for posterity.
Wild Yak
Wild yak (Dong) is a sturdy and bulky ungulate with high lung capacity and thick coat, which are adaptations to the high altitude
environment of Tibet. The animals are mostly black with greyish muzzle, but some are aberrantly brown. The males have imposing,
stately horns that are gracefully curved and widely separated. It is the ancestor of the domestic yak, and is morphologically
similar to the latter except it is bigger in body size and has larger horns. The hairs on the flanks are long, forming a pendant
fringe, while those on the head and the upper portion of the body are short. It has a drooping head with stout legs that terminate
in massive hooves, and is structurally allied to the European bison.
Wild yak is distributed on the Tibetan plateau, where its population density increases towards the eastern alpine meadows.
The animal stays in high areas (5,000-6,000 m) with permanent snow during the relatively warm months of August through September
and spends the rest of the year at lower elevations. It is a grazer and feed predominantly on grasses, which are sparsely
distributed on the tawny plateau of Tibet. Despite its awkward appearance, it is a sure-footed and expert climber.
The wild yak is assigned a "Vulnerable" status on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources) Red List of Threatened Animals. Currently, there is an estimated population of c. 15,000 yaks in the wild.
Once widely distributed in the high valleys and alpine pastures of Tibet and the adjoining mountainous regions, the animal
now survives in isolated herds scattered in the most remote and inhospitable areas.
A small population also occurs in the Chhang Chhenmo Valley of eastern Ladakh, as reported by early explorers as well
as the recent wildlife surveyors. Presently there are not more than 100 animals in the area, although the figures provided
by different surveyors vary, perhaps because many confuse it with the domestic one, as they look quite similar from a distance.
The wild yak, however, had a wider distribution in Ladakh in the past, spread as far west as the Gya-Miru area, as indicated
by the presence of horns and pit-traps (Donglups) in the area.
Today the wild yak faces a plethora of threats including hunting by people that share their habitat, competition with
domestic ungulates, and perhaps disease transmission by domestic yaks. The animal was also highly persecuted by sportsmen,
and the population declined precipitously in the last couple of centuries due largely to hunting. At present, although the
animal is officially protected from hunting and commercial trade, its future survival depends on establishment of suitable
reserves with good pastures and efficient protection.
The population of wild yak serves as a genetic resource for improving the future breeds of the domestic yak, which is
an integral part of the livestock production system of Changthang. The cows provide milk and the bulls are used for transportation.
The yak meat is an important source of protein, and the hair of the animal is used for making waterproof Rebo tents. In fact,
the Changpa's culture revolved around the yak for centuries. Nevertheless, the domestic yak might face new challenges associated
with diseases brought in by exotic species. Thus, it is imperative to conserve the wild yak in good numbers to provide a genetic
vigour to the population of the domestic yak.
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