Flora is a Latin word which means goddess of flowers and Fauna was sister of Faunus, a good spirit of the forest and plains. Flora and Fauna refer to plant and wild life respectively. The indigenous plant and wildlife of a geographical region is often referred to as that region’s flora and fauna.
Flora and Fauna of Ladakh were first studied by Ferdinand Stoliczka, an Austrian Palaeontologist, who carried out a massive expedition in the region in the 1870s. Flora and Fauna of Ladakh are in keeping with the mountainous nature of region. The Flora and Fauna of Ladakh have much common with those of Central Asia generally, and especially those of the Tibetan plateau.
There are hardly any trees and vegetation in sight in much of Ladakh, except for the few narrow valleys, where wild roses, willow groves and some herbs could be seen. However, above that, due to rapid decrease in tempreture, vegetation becomes stunted and sparse. An exception to this is birds. Ladakh has a great diversity of birds, a total of 225 species have been recorded, many of them that migrate from the warmer parts of India to spend summer in Ladakh. Among Ladakh’s most important Fauna are bactarian camel, brown bear, Ladakh urial, lynx, red fox, syberian ibex, snow leopard, Tibetan antelope, Tibetan argali, Tibetan gazelle, Tibetan wild ass, Tibetan wolf, wild dog, and wild yak.
Many species of finches, robins, red starts and the hoopoe are common in summer. The brown headed gull and resident water birds include the brahminy duck [ruddy Sheldrake] bar headed goose can be seen in summer on the river Indus and some lakes of Changthang. The black headed crane, a rare species is also found in Ladakh. Other bird species are raven, red billed chough, Tibetan snow cock and chukar can be seen in summer in Ladakh.
The lammergeyer and golden eagle, common raptors are found here.
Did you know:-Only 200 Leopards are surviving in Ladakh. But you can see their foot print in winter only.
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