Notes From the Field --

Field Notes, Winter, 2003-2004

Rinchen and volunteer Barb Palmer setting camera traps

Jigmet Dadul.

Jigmet's Snow Leopard Sighting:

February 2, 2004

All night I saw a snow leopard in my dreams and woke up early in the morning to the cry of a magpie shouting loudly near my tent. Tashi Namgial (cook) came with tea and said, “Jigmet, did you hear the magpie? Maybe something happened.” I told him about the snow leopard in my dreams, and went to Rumbak latho (sacred place) to pray to the Mahakala (protector).

According to Rumbak people, the natural born Mahakala can be seen above this latho. On the Ladakhi New Year, one or two ibex are rumored to visit there, and in 2001 I saw the ibex there myself. Since we usually don’t see ibex in that area, I have a lot of faith in that latho.

In the evening, I decided to go to the Husing bottom pullu (livestock enclosure). Around 4:30 pm, I carried my sleeping bag, camera, binoculars and a hot water bottle with me, reaching the height at 4:45 pm. When I looked toward Husing Nalla (Husing Canyon), a female snow leopard was coming down from the main trail. I immediately squatted down and went toward the camera spot. By then, she was lying down on the main trail and looking in my direction. After a few mintues, she got up and started to leave. I thought of making snow leopard vocalizations to bring her back, and when I started this she returned within fifty meters of my hide. Only after carefully looking toward my position did she return to Husing Nalla.

cheek rubbing – snow leopard marking behavior

February 9

The day started sunny, but after lunch it was cloudy and at 5:45 pm it had started to snow. I thought the weather was good for a snow leopard sighting, and at 5:48 pm I heard a rock falling down opposite my position. When I looked, I saw nothing; but after a few minutes, I saw the snow leopard coming down toward the main trail. I looked through my camera and took a few pictures. She was looking at me for a few seconds from a distance of only ten to fifteen meters. I continuously took film, and it seemed she didn’t care about the noise of the camera. She continued walking toward Husing Nalla, and when she reached the rock scent at the bottom of Husing she smelled it and rubbed her cheeks on the rock. Then she turned around, with her long tail straight up, and sprayed on the rock.

Jullay!

Jigmet Dadul
Snow Leopard Conservancy

Barbara's Field Notes

Home

Rodney's Field Notes