ΡΗΑΝΤΟΜ OF THE SNOW

ULLEY VILLAGE IN LEH IS A KEY HABITAT FOR THE ENDANGERED SNOW LEOPARD. CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOCUS ON PRESERVING THE BALANCE BETWEEN NATURE AND LADAKHI CULTURE

- KARTIKEYA SHANKAR

"Being patient is crucial," Norbu whispered, his eyes focused on the faraway mountains.

"Sometimes, it takes weeks for us to spot a snow leopard. They excel at blending into the rocks, almost like ghosts."

We met Norbu sometime in December 2023 in Ulley, approximately two hours away from Leh. The village is in the Sham region of central Ladakh, located north of the Indus River, and consists of six families, housing around 40 or so residents. Having spent two days acclimatising in the capital of Ladakh, a crucial step for adjusting to the high altitudes, we embarked on our journey to Ulley, curated by Sublime Wilderness Odyssey, a Bangalore-based safari travel company specialising in offering private experiences.

“I founded Sublime Wilderness Odyssey to share my love for nature with others through exclusive safari experiences. The company is born from my passion for conservation, and aims to offer unique encounters while preserving the natural world,” said Uzma Irfan, founder of Sublime Wilderness Odyssey and director of corporate communications at Prestige Group.

SPOTTING THE GHOST

Adorned in an olive-green jacket and military-style cargo pants, Norbu is always armed with powerful binoculars. He joins the village's team of trackers during the early mornings and evenings; each focused on a different point in the valley with spotting telescopes. These trackers are all local men from Ulley and neighbouring villages, such as Saspochey and Hemis-Shukpachan.