This corral in Shadé was predator-proofed in the summer of 2003.

Conservation of Zanskar’s Snow Leopards

The 3,000 square-mile region of Zanskar, like its neighbor Ladakh, was once a land of independent kingdoms. But Zanskar lies even deeper in the folds of the Trans-Himalaya. The name Zanskar might refer to the natural occurrence of copper the region, or it might mean good (or beautiful) and white. Some of Zanskar’s settlements are cut off from one another for months because of snow and avalanche danger, while the jeep road out from the district headquarters of Padam is open only from late June through sometime in November.

The region supports some 10,000 farmers and herders who face the same challenges in co-existing with snow leopards as communities elsewhere in northern India.

2002:

SLC-India initiated corral predator-proofing and community-based conservation projects in Shadé, Tsogsti, and Lingshed.

2003:

Hired new SLC-India Field Assistant for Zanskar, Tashi Thundup.

2005:

SLC-India developed three new Himalayan Homestay sites in the Sham region with 16 new hosts. Installed SK-14 solar cooker, operated by the Karsha women’s group.
Contact us or SLC-India for the full report.

2006:

Trekked up the frozen Zanskar River to assess the region for partnership with SLC-India for community-based conservation activities; interviewed villagers to document local attitudes and folklore see Field Notes.

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