Nomadic Vignettes - from Tsokar, Changthang

Seemingly barren, the cold desert of the Changthang Valley is home to some of the rarest species of wildlife, as well as the nomadic communities who eke out their livelihoods through their livestock. Meenal Pahuja talks about the risks faced by this fragile ecosystem due to global warming and the work WWF has been doing with the nomadic communities for generating sustainable livelihoods and protecting wildlife.

- Meenal Pahuja

Despite being a complete barren and cold desert, Changthang Valley is home to some of the rare wildlife species like the blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Ladakhi urial (Ovis aries vignei), argali (Ovis ammon), kiang (Equus kiang), Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picticaudata), Lynx (Lynx lynx), Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus filchneri), Snow leopard (Panthera uncia), Black necked crane (Grus nigricollis).

The landscape is dotted by vast highlands and giant lakes, inhabited mostly by nomads who rear livestock as their economic mainstay.

It is in within the expanses of this beautiful landscape that life thrives in difficult conditions, from the elusive snow leopard to the age-old Changpa nomads along with their livestock.