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Making room for the snow leopard

Maintaining the delicate balance of wildlife in the Himalayas

October 22^nd, 2021

One of most captivating big cat species, snow leopards inhabit high-altitude mountains in 12 countries across Northern and Central Asia. Highly specialized predators that can survive in extremely cold temperatures and rugged terrain, they play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of fragile mountain ecosystems. In India, snow leopard habitats are estimated to provide ecosystem services worth US$4 billion annually.

Just 14 countries in the world are home to snow leopards. India is working to prioritize their conservation and protection by working with communities and government ministries. Photo: UNDP India/Raja Venkatapathy

The trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh in India is one of the best places to spot a snow leopard in the wild. The communities here still practice traditional livelihoods like agriculture and pastoralism. They have been co-existing with snow leopards and other wild creatures for centuries.

Human wildlife conflict: A complex conservation problem

In recent years, the problem of human wildlife conflict has arisen. Due to lack of wild prey, snow leopards are forced to come to villages and attack livestock.

There are two main reasons for this. First, global warming is shrinking the habitat for species like Himalayan Blue Sheep and Himalayan Ibex, which are an important part of the snow leopard’s diet.

A flock of Pashmina goats. Many herders increase their size of flock due to limited alternative means for income, thus making them more vulnerable to attacks by snow leopards. Photo: Shutterstock

Second, lack of alternative livelihood opportunities compels herders to increase the number of livestock, which compete with wild species like the blue sheep and ibex for grass, leading to a decline in the population and availability of wild prey for the snow leopard.

Community-based tourism offers a sustainable solution to generate new livelihoods that supports conservation. By providing an alternative income source to local communities, it reduces the need to keep more livestock and thus helps maintain a healthy population of wild prey.

It also provides an incentive to conserve traditional practices like cuisine, handicrafts and performing arts, which are in great demand by tourists.

As Padma Tsomo highlights the natural and cultural heritage to tourists in Tarchit, her native village in Ladakh, one can see the pride she takes in the traditions of her ancestors.

“Most of our needs – food, clothes, medicines etc. are met locally, our lifestyles even today are nature-based and sustainable.”

-Padma Tsomo

Padma is one of the 25 youth trained as nature and culture guides by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a part of the SECURE Himalaya initiative. The programme is supported by the Global Environment Facility and is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and the Department of Wildlife Protection, Union Territory Administration of Ladakh.

SECURE Himalaya is working to develop a holistic tourism model, which includes training community members, especially women and youth on technical aspects like nature guiding and soft skills like hospitality and communication.

Tourism products around key themes like nature, wildlife, cuisine and arts are being developed in consultation with market experts. Communities are also being supported to access resources from government schemes and programmes to build homestays and other basic amenities.

Padma and her fellow trainees are now going to work with local tour operators to conduct sightseeing activities as the tourism industry is slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Village elders are enthusiastic about getting a chance to share their rich culture and traditions with the outside world.