Safari in snow leopard home? Conservationists say Ladakh is no Kaziranga
Ladakh has planned to introduce guided wildlife safaris on popular snow leopard and bird-watching trails. Join conversation View All Comments → Share your thoughts in
Ladakh has planned to introduce guided wildlife safaris on popular snow leopard and bird-watching trails. Join conversation View All Comments → Share your thoughts in the comments Insightful Agree Disagree Skeptical Concerning Promising Worth Reading Big Development Post Comment Be respectful · TOI community guidelines SRINAGAR: A safari car can roll past a rhino in Kaziranga. In Ranthambore, it can track a tiger. Put that car in Ladakh. For its elusive snow leopards — masters of camouflage in a landscape where survival depends on staying unseen — the question is whether tourism can get close enough to see them without making them disappear for good.Ladakh has planned to introduce guided wildlife safaris on popular snow leopard and bird-watching trails, triggering warnings from conservationists that turning a fragile high-altitude wilderness into a tourist circuit could disturb wildlife, commercialise off-roading and open the door to roads, eateries and other tourism infrastructure.“You cannot see a snow leopard from a jeep unless you do something illegal like placing bait or a sheep to lure it,” said Dr MK Ranjitsinh, emeritus member of Wildlife Trust of India, who has spent nearly 50 years shaping conservation strategies and played a key role in framing the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and Project Tiger.“Kaziranga is not Ladakh and Ranthambore is not Ladakh.
The ecology is completely different,” he added.In Ladakh’s open valleys, vehicles can be visible from miles away. Vegetation is concentrated along valley bottoms, drawing animals there to feed and drink. “Are you taking a safari there?” he asked.Ladakh is home to 477 of India’s estimated 718 snow leopards — the country’s largest population. It also supports more than 38 mammal species, 340 bird species and 1,800 vascular plant species.But spotting a snow leopard is a needle-in-a-haystack affair. Its thick, mottled coat melts into rocky slopes, while steep, remote terrain gives it a vast natural advantage.The Ladakh govt spokesperson said lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has directed the forest department to introduce guided safaris modelled on national parks such as Kaziranga and Ranthambore, using specially designed open-back vehicles operated by trained local drivers and guides. According to govt, the move is aimed at preventing illegal off-roading and disturbance of wildlife.The plan was cleared at the first governing body meeting of Snow Leopard and High-Altitude Nature Conservation Society, chaired by Saxena.
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