Field Notes, Baltistan

by Rodney Jackson

Hushey Village, Baltistan
June 25, 2004

Haji Ibrahim, former President of the Hushey Village Conservation Committee (VCC), thanked us for nominating Hushey for the 2004 Conservation Hero award, and for traveling such a long distance. He expressed the village’s gratitude to the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund “for thinking about the people in a such far away place in Baltistan, Pakistan.”

VCC member Sher Ali welcomed us to work alongside the Hushey community to protect snow leopards and other wildlife for the future of the children and for tourists to the region.

Dr. Mock pointed out, “It is we who should be thanking you. You are the ones who took the big step and have done the real work. All we did was to deliver the news. You villagers made the decision to release the snow leopard unharmed, and it is because of your actions that we are here today. We are very grateful to you and stand ready to help in any positive way that we can.”

Dr. John Mock (left) and Rod Jackson.
This and the above photo are taken from video shot by Andrew Chinn.

The Disney Fund’s letter to the village was opened and translated, and to the great delight of the crowd, we presented the beautiful Award Plaque, and the gifts of caps, tote bags and badges.

Andrew and I then visited the livestock pen in question, and saw how the cat had pushed aside a rock and entered through a small hole. We discussed with Sher Ali and Ibrahim Zahid how this might be avoided in future by fully predator-proofing all structures.

The Village Conservation Committee showed strong interest in predator-proofing corrals. Since most pens already have well-made doors, this would be relatively easy, needing only wire mesh across the roof vent and the occasional window. We thus incorporated specific measures into an Action Plan to be implemented under the two-year agreement that we adopted and signed during our stay.

In developing our agreement with the Village Conservation Committee, we helped them identify how the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund’s gift of $1,000 could best be used for snow leopard conservation. Hushey will inventory all its nighttime pens and take firm action to ensure that all structures are predator-proofed. They will improve daytime guarding practices, especially in known hotspots. They will act to prevent poaching, and will inform the authorities and SLC of any infringements. The SLC will provide technical advice and financial support for implementing the above actions, and funds to train one or two villagers in veterinary care for injured livestock. We have given herders whistles and headlamps for improved shepherding, and a camera for documenting depredation incidents. Also, we will help villagers refine their monitoring and record-keeping.

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