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Home , Choglamsar, Hemis National Park, Leh district

Conservancy Trust 2000-2007 SHAN

Hemis Community Initiates Conservation In This Edition of the Great Tibetan Sheep community initiates conserva- With growing awareness about conservation and substantial tion of the great tibetan sheep economic benefits from the Himalayan Homestays programme, the Who We Are village community has decided to give a fighting chance to the small population and promote it as a village tourism asset. Predator-Proofing Livestock Pens Ecotourism Standing 110-120 cms tall at shoulder level, the Tibetan Argali is the Snow Leopard Conservation world’s largest wild sheep and among the rarest species found in . Education Programme Popularly known as the Great Tibetan Sheep, are highly threatened, with only about 2,000 of them left in the wild today. The Hemis National Research & Monitoring Park area currently harbours approximately 20 of these wild ungulates, which may not be a viable population for survival. The main reason for their low and stagnant numbers has been competition for grazing from MISSION domestic livestock and limited habitat within the . Since its inception in 2000 Responding to this critical situation, the Rumbak community has decided to create a grazing reserve for the Argali by banning the grazing of all (formally registered in 2003), domestic livestock in the area north of the Gandala Trail, known to be the the Snow Leopard Conservancy preferred habitat of these magnificent wild sheep. India Trust (SLC-IT) has been dedicated to promoting community- Rinchen Wangchuk, Snow Leopard Conservancy-India Trust’s programme director says, “when we started the programme back in 2000, villagers based stewardship of the endangered responded by asking us why we had chosen to name our organization after snow leopard, its prey and habitat such a despised animal (namely, the snow leopard). to the benefit of local people Today, conservation initiatives such as this from the community display real ecotourism models, and the environment in the where the word “eco” is not just about eco- trans-Himalayan regions of nomics but about real conservation linkages with Ladakh and . threatened species.” Who We Are

Making Snow Leopards Worth THE SOLUTIONS to these problems, More Alive Than Dead however, are straightforward. SLC-IT believes that truly sustainable conservation RATIONALE comes from participation & stewardship Snow leopards are the barometers of a by the entire community. healthy ecosystem in the high mountain- ous regions they inhabit. In other words, To begin with, villagers have been mobilized a healthy snow leopard population is the to predator-proof their pens to prevent sign of a healthy habitat, and conservation livestock losses. Next, a range of economic of this elusive cat leads to the conservation measures requiring minimal investment of the entire ecosystem. All across the snow have been introduced that provide incen- Studying blue sheep horns during a Nature Guides’ training session in pasture leopard’s range in the high mountain ranges tives to herders to preserve wildlife and of Central and , humans threaten natural habitat. The additional income has These initiatives have been greatly bolstered the cat’s survival. There are roughly just also helped offset livestock losses caused by by a conservation education programme 4,000–7,000 snow leopards left in the wild snow leopards, wolves that is raising awareness among children and (India is home to approximately 500). The and other predators. herding communities, with the objective of cats are poached for their skin, organs and making them future stewards of bone. Another threat comes from hunters The community-based their environment. It is a col- who deplete their mainstay prey. Lastly, tourism project Hima- laborative effort between snow leopards suffer from escalating con- layan Homestays is one such SLC-IT & Kalpavriksh, a flicts with locals who share their habitat. In initiative. Traditional home- Pune-based environmen- Ladakh, socio-economic changes have led to stays offer tourists an authentic tal action group. more children going to school, leaving fewer cultural experience while trek- people at home to tend livestock. This has king through rugged snow leop- Clearly, the solution lies resulted in lax herding practices. ard habitat. They also increase the in building the capacity of stake that local communities have local communities to better The Tibetan Argali or in conserving the wildlife and envi- Great Tibetan Sheep their lives while simultane- ronment that draws visitors to their ously protecting wildlife & homes. Income goes directly to local fami- the environment. In doing so, we can trans- lies, who use 10% of their profits to supple- form perceptions towards snow leopards, ment a village conservation fund, which in from perceived threats into valued assets, turn supports activities like tree plantation, worth more alive than dead, whose presence livestock insurance, garbage management & draws visitors & provides economic oppor- restoration of cultural features. tunities throughout the region. This is the strongest prescription for sustainable, long- Another economic incentive has been the term conservation with local people acting setting up of environment-friendly para- as stewards of the elusive snow leopard. chute cafés, run cooperatively by the village women’s group. Selling traditional Ladakhi dishes, handicrafts & solar-cooked filtered water (which helps reduce the plastic bottle menace), this project strengthens the in- come-generation skills of women.

Poster for Hemis Community’s Argali Reserve Next, a programme has been initiated to train youth as nature guides. Supported Livestock, meanwhile, has become some- by the J&K Wildlife Department, it also thing of a free and easy meal for the big cats, trains them to monitor snow leopard and either while grazing free-range on open pas- prey populations using cyber trackers, which tures or when corralled in poorly-built pens. helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the in- A single attack often results in multiple kill- terventions. SLC-IT introduces its interven- ings (some times up to 50 sheep and goats), tions on the premise of a firm commitment leaving angered herders with little choice from locals that they will ensure no killings but to kill the endangered cats. of predators, especially snow leopards. Rumbak village, the site of several homestays Programme 1: Reducing Depredation Losses by Predator-Proofing Livestock Pens

Rationale like a sturdy door and impen- SLC-IT began its programme in 2000 in etrable roof which used wire the 3,350 sq km Hemis National Park after meshing supported by wooden a survey in 1998 showed that people of the poles. Villagers provided local Markha Valley and surrounding hamlets materials such as stone and mud lost 12.4% of their livestock to predators for the walls and free over a 14-month period (late 1997-early labour, while 1999). The average loss per household was SLC-IT 6 animals (Rs 13,000/-) while the total loss provided in the park was 492 animals (Rs 10 lakhs the door and or US$ 23,250). This was a significant loss poles and wire An exasperated snow leopard walks away after trying to for these pastoralists. About 81% of the meshing for the roof. attack livestock housed securely in a predator-proof pen losses were to sheep & goats and 58% of the On-going innova- depredation came from snow leopards, 32% tions by villagers had reduced from 38.2% (according to from wolves & 10% from smaller preda- have resulted in pens becoming even more the 1999 survey) to less than 1% tors. Significantly, 61.8% of losses occurred cost effective (such as in Ulley), where (To redress the possibility of there being gaps in in open pastures while 38.2% occurred in villagers did away with extra walls and poles, the data collected, SLC-IT plans to conduct a corrals. Although total losses were higher without compromising on the sturdiness more thorough survey at a later date) in open pastures, the average loss per attack of the pens. by snow leopards in corrals was high (up to 50 animals killed in one attack versus 1-2 Outomes of preventive animals killed per attack in open pastures). measures to mitigate Retributive killings of snow leopards were conflicts largely fuelled by multiple killings of live- • It is estimated that each community stock in corrals and it was clear there was a predator-proof corral saves 2-5 snow critical need for intervention in this area. leopards from retribution • SLC-IT has predator-proofed 22 the process community livestock enclosures & 21 Curtailing multiple killings of livestock by individual pens across 19 villages snow leopards within corrals is a major fo- • In villages where livestock pens have cus of SLC-IT’s interventions. The team be- been improved, no revenge killings have gan by encouraging locals to participate in been recorded planning & solutions, thus drawing on local • A survey conducted in Hemis National knowledge regarding livestock movements, Park in 2004-2005 showed that total Sheep and goats huddle together in their new predator-proof pen whose roof & door will pre- depredation hotspots and traditional guard- livestock losses from within enclosures vent attacks from snow leopards, Tangyar village ing and corral-building methods. Through discussions, the causes of livestock depreda- “We villagers are very tion were found to be: poorly constructed relieved to have these corrals (built without roofs leaving livestock wide open to predators), lax daytime guard- improved pens. Not only ing & animal husbandry practices, little use because our livestock is safer, of guard dogs and placement of livestock but because our lives are pens in prime predator habitat. now better. We can sleep at innovative solutions home instead of miles away The outcome of the planning sessions was a on the cold ground guard- simple but effective solution to depredation ing our pens. And we can be – to predator-proof nighttime corrals using low-cost methods and minimal external better Buddhists because we support. SLC-IT agreed to give technical don’t have to kill the snow and financial aid on the condition that no leopard anymore.” snow leopards or wolves would be killed. A superior pen was designed to prevent A delighted herdsman holds up a sheep soon after the new community pen is completed in Herder in Sku Kaya Village on the Effectiveness snow leopards from entering with features Tangyar village, Valley, 2007 of the Predator-Proof Pens Programme 2: Ecotourism rationale “It gets you out of the tourist SLC-IT helps local communities develop constructed ghettos.” supplementary sources of income from en- vironmentally-sound tourism projects, that – Australian Traveller at a Ladakh Homestay provide incentives to preserve wildlife while simultaneously raising household standards ungulates. In addition, 10% of all profits of living. It also helps offset economic losses go to a village conservation fund that from livestock depredation and reduces the supports local conservation activities dependency on animal husbandry. • Himalayan Homestays was awarded Travel & Leisure Magazine’s 2005 Travellers enjoy a rest at a Parachute Cafe in Hemis National Park the process Global Vision Award for Community In 2001, with financial support fromT MI Outreach, New York and the 2005 First of the subsidy came from the village & UNESCO, SLC-IT invited village par- Choice Responsible Tourism Award of fund while just 20% came from SLC-IT ticipation to develop eco-friendly alternative the World Travel Market, London • With technical assistance from the Dept. livelihoods that required minimal invest- • Himalayan Homestays is listed in Alastair of Animal Husbandry, the Ulley village ment. The idea was to enlist the communi- Sawday’s Green Places to Stay and fund helped immunize village livestock ty’s support by demonstrating the social and Special Places to Stay in India against foot & mouth disease economic benefits of wildlife conservation. • Plastic mineral water bottles have been Tourism was seen as a viable option, given indirect beneficiaries replaced by solar-boiled water at 6 the 5,000-odd visitors who passed through • Over 70 women run 7 Parachute Cafés Parachute Cafés in Hemis National Park. Hemis National Park & adjacent areas each along trekking routes in Hemis National 200-300 bottlefuls are sold per season summer but who, until then, had provided Park adopting eco-friendly devices such averaging Rs 2,000-3000/- annually little or no benefit to local people. as parabolic solar heaters for boiling • Rumbak village has given a fighting water. Income is also generated through chance to the threatened Tibetan Argali homestays the sale of handicrafts (Great Tibetan Sheep) by creating a • The Himalayan Homestays programme • In Ladakh & Zanskar, 90 families ben- grazing reserve for the 20-or-so Argali focuses on poorer families from prime efit indirectly through pack horses, solar left in Hemis National Park snow leopard habitats in Hemis Na- baths and by working as nature guides • Over 250 willow trees were planted in tional Park, Sham, Zanskar & Spiti • 42 youth have been trained as Nature Kharlung Valley to help the greening involving 96 households in 21 villages. Guides in Ladakh & Spiti process and reduce grazing pressure The programme has strong conservation • The adoption of the Guides’ Training • Mani walls and old have been linkages with species like the endan- Programme by the Department of Wild- restored in Rumbak, Tarutse, Ulley, gered snow leopard and threatened wild life Protection builds for sustainability , Ang & Shingo • Rumbak, Tarutse, Yangtang Tokpo, Ul- conservation outputs ley, Shingo & Ang villages clean up their • Large-bodied livestock were insured surroundings each year. Several villages against predatory animals in Ulley. 80% bring garbage back to for recycling

“I enjoy interacting with visitors & have become a significant bread-earner of the house.” – Sonam Palmo from Ang, Ladakh Homestay Provider Tea & biscuits in a traditional Ladakhi kitchen

Karsha, Zanskar Programme 3: The Snow Leopard Conservation Education Programme The Snow Leopard Conservation Education “I have never seen these Programme is a collaborative effort between animals which live in the the Snow Leopard Conservancy-India Trust (SLC-IT) and Kalpavriksh (KV), a Pune- mountains because I live far and -based environmental action from the mountains. I have group, to facilitate the development and learnt not only in the world implementation of an environmental educa- tion programme in Ladakh for children of but how many animals are upper primary and middle school levels. endemic in Ladakh. We are The programme was conceptualized in 2005 proud of you for giving infor- and work began in December 2005. mation about these animals.

I am feeling in my heart.” A group of boys peer through a pair of binoculars on a bird-watching trip Tsering Chorol, Student, Class 7 wildlife posters to increase the outreach. content, design & tools Efforts are on to disseminate these widely to The programme focuses on Ladakh’s wild all government schools. biodiversity, threats that it faces and con- servation actions taken to tackle them. It is conservation initiatives conducted through a series of workshops fa- After 4 workshops, the children of Markha cilitated by 3 local youth who are working as and Matho schools addressed some local environmental educators. A variety of tools issues. Markha school rebuilt the irrigation are used such as outdoor and indoor games, water channels and with the community’s nature study, art and craft, bird-watching help, dug 3 deep garbage pits and painted trips & films. Kalpavriksh developed a hand- signboards to address the village garbage book for educators (currently in draft form) problem. Children at Matho whitewashed with detailed activity sections. Material for chortens all around the school. games was also developed such as posters, Children learning about Ladakh’s indigenous nature card games (Nature Rummy, Who birds in a Conservation Education Workshop Eats What), Fauna Bingo, Tailing the Snow programme objectives Leopard, an Insect Puzzle and Board Game. • To instill in children the knowledge The material is entirely local in content. and appreciation of their rich natural biodiversity larger outreach Signboard painted by the children of Markha • To encourage children to understand As the number of schools involved in the School to address the village garbage problem the importance of harmonious co- programme is relatively small (currently existence between humans & wildlife just 10), it was decided to mass produce 3 other activities • To help children understand conserva- • Conducted a field trip to theT so-Kar tion issues in the hope that they will basin for 54 students of Markha and become future stewards of their Matho Government Schools natural environment • Organized Parents’ Functions at Matho & Markha where children shared what operations they had learnt with their families In 2006, the programme was implemented in 5 government schools of Hemis National “The students have improved Park: Markha, Matho, Shang, Shang much more than before. Infact, Chokdo and Nakdin. In 2007, SLC-IT they seem to know much more included 2 more schools in than us teachers about Ladakh’s (Hemis-shukpachan & the Central Institute biodiversity. Even during the of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) in ) games period they prefer to play and 3 schools in Zanskar bringing the num- ber of children involved up to about 300. the environmental games in- stead of cricket or other games.” Tailing the Snow Leopard, one of several games used to increase wildlife awareness Mr. Namgyal, Headmaster of Markha School Programme 4: Research & Monitoring

• SLC-India Trust along with California • Studies from Rumbak show that The team identified several snow leopards based SLC-US, with support from the livestock dependency has reduced based on their distinct pelage patterns. Below: Snow Leopard-A (3 pics) & Snow Leopard-B Wildlife Department of J&K, Leh, con- from 33% (Raghu Chandawat’s 1990 (2 pics). Solid blue lines indicate primary features; ducted the first Snow Leopard Census in study) to 11% (Sandeep Sharma’s yellow lines indicate secondary features. All the world in 2003-2004 in the Rumbak study in 2005). Studies analyse con- pictures were taken at different trap stations. Valley using remote cameras to identify tents of snow leopard scats for their A B individual animals in a given area percentage of livestock versus wild • Conducted livestock depredation surveys animal content in all snow leopard hotspots to monitor impacts of interventions. In any area Conclusion that SLC-IT undertakes depredation Although livestock depredation cannot be reduction or income improvement activ- completely eliminated, the percentage of ities, the village stewards or households livestock killings in enclosures has greatly are asked to keep records of what kind reduced. The introduction of predator-proof and how much livestock each family pens has been a turning point in relations owns from year to year between the big cat and local community. In villages where pens have been improved, no Outcomes revenge killings have been recorded. There • Hemis National Park: Reduced Total has also been a gradual change in herders’ Livestock Losses from 12.4% in 1999 to attitudes towards snow leopards. A board 9.8% in 2004-2005 in Hemis National Park’s Rumbak village • Hemis National Park: A survey by SLC- proclaims “Welcome to the Snow Leopard IT in 2004-2005 showed that livestock Capital of the World”. losses from within enclosures had re- duced from 38.2% (as per 1999 survey) An Old Ladakhi Proverb sums up to less than 1% (0.4% to be exact) SLC-IT’s efforts since 2000 (To redress the possibility of there being gaps in the data collected, SLC-IT plans to conduct a “Neither dies the lamb nor more thorough survey at a later date) goes the wolf hungry”

Acknowledgements Contact Us Snow Leopard Conservancy Board of Trustees nization (UNESCO) Illustrator India Trust Mr. Riju Raj Jamwal, • CAT (Cat Action Treasury) Ms. Madhuvanti Anantharajan PO Box: 67 Shangara House Managing Trustee • Wildlife Conservation Mr. David Sonam, Trustee Network (WCN) Friends of Himalayan Tukcha Main Road Mr. Renzino Lepcha, Trustee • The Mountain Institute Homestays Leh 194 101, Ladakh Maitreya Tours Jammu & , India Programme Partners Programme Advisors Snow Leopard Trails (Ltd.) • SLC-USA Ms. Nandita Jain Overland Escape tele/fax: 0091 1982 250953 • Kalpavriksh, Pune Dr. Rodney Jackson Golden Peak Adventures • Wildlife Protection Department Ms. Dilpreet Singh, Fab India email: [email protected] of Jammu & Kashmir State Ms. Sujatha Padmanabhan Team • Kanchendzonga Conservation Mr. Rinchen Wangchuk, Committee (KCC) www.snowleopardindia.org Friends of SLC-India Programme Director • Animal Husbandry Depart- Ms. Darla Hillard Mr. Jigmet Dadul, www.himalayan-homestays.com ment, Leh J&K Ms. Dechen Laskit Programme Manager • Tourism Department, J&K Mr. Gary Weare-AHF Mr. Tashi Thundup, • A ustralian Himalayan Ms. Manisha Seth Gutman Field Assistant, Zanskar If you wish to make a donation, Foundation Ms. Sharmila Deo Ms. Tsering Angmo, Environ- contact Mr. Rinchen Wangchuk, • LEDeG Mr. Nakul Chettri mental Education Coordinator Programme Director, Snow Leopard • JERES Fab-India Overseas Ms. Rigzin Chondol, Environ- • Friends of Lingshed Dr. Rabgyes, Animal mental Education Facilitator Conservancy India Trust OR The • Ecotourism & Conservation Husbandry Department Ms. Rinchen Angmo, Managing Trustee, Mr. Riju Raj Jamwal, Society of (ECOSS) Ms. Gudrun Batek Environmental Education [email protected] • MUSE, Spiti Mr. Rigzin Tundup Facilitator Ms. Tsering Lanzes Mr. Navin Chandra, Principal Donors Ms. Vandana Mohindra Accountant • United Nations Educational, Ms. Malavika Talukder Scientific & CulturalO rga- www.snowleopardindia.org