Wild life in Leh Ladakh

Leh Ladakh is situated in between the great Himalaya and Karakoram mountain ranges. Scarcely availability of water from rain has made this area into an arid land. Flora and fauna of Ladakh have many similarities to Tibetan Plateau except the birds in summer season. A huge number of birds migrate from the warmer parts of India to spend the summer in Ladakh. A total of 225 species have been recorded. Many of these birds reside at high-altitude wetlands such as Tso Moriri.

Flora in the arid land of Leh Ladakh can be seen as few dots on Ladakh map. Some rare fond and endanger fauna are seen in the snow desert of Ladakh. Ladakh temperature varies nearly 50 degree Celsius from winter to summer (minus20degree  in winter to 30 degree Celsius in summer). This type of variation in the temperature is not observed in any part of the world. It is one of the most important causes of scarcely availability of flora and fauna in Ladakh.

The Ibex (skin)

The ibex (skin) is found in high rocky terrain of Europe, North Africa and Asia, and numbers several thousand in Ladakh. Trekkers often spot them while trekking in Ladakh. The Bharal (napo) is even more common in the Himalayas from Ladakh to Sikkim.

Urial sheep (shapo)

The Tibetan Urial sheep (shapo) is a rare goat found at lower elevations, mostly in river valleys, and therefore is often directly in competition with domesticated animals. They are now rare, numbering about one thousand.

Argali sheep (nyan)

The Tibetan Argali sheep (nyan) is a relative of the Marco Polo sheep of the Pamirs. Impressive animals with huge horizontal curving horns, they are extremely rare in Ladakh, numbering only a couple hundred.

The Tibetan Antelope is also endangered. It has been hunted for its fine wool which must be pulled out by hand, a process done after the animal is killed. Owning or trading this wool is now illegal in most countries.

Wild Ass (kyang)

The Tibetan Wild Ass (kyang) is one animal that visitors can expect to see from the comfort of a vehicle, if they take a jeep tour on the Changthang. Favoring the rolling grasslands of this area, their natural curiosity makes them fairly easy to spot, despite the relatively low numbers, about 1500 individuals.

Shan (snow leopards)

Shan (snow leopards) are extremely shy and hard to spot, and as such not well known. It is believed there are about 200 in Ladakh. While tourists are unlikely to see leopards themselves, during winter the footprints and other marks are not uncommon.

Wolf (shangku)

The Tibetan Wolf (shangku) is the greatest threat to the livestock of the Ladakhis. There are only about 300 wolves left in Ladakh. There are also a very few brown bears in the Suru valley and the area around Dras.

Among smaller animals, marmots are common; you can even sometimes see them from the road. There are also plenty of hares and several types of voles and pika.

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