Wildlife in Leh Ladakh – Snow leopard, Asiatic ibex, Himalayan marmot, Red fox, Wooly Hare or Tibetan Hare, Blue Sheep or Bharal, Eurasian Lynx, Ladakh Ural, Mountain Weasel, Himalayan Vulture, Lammergeier, Brown-headed Gull, Chukar Partridge, and other animals and birds are among the mammals and birds that can be found there.

Ladakh’s diverse wildlife is a top draw for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts who come to see the region’s stunning and uncommon species of varied mammals and birds against a backdrop of snow-covered granite mountains and a bright blue sky. Ladakh’s natural vegetation includes 1100 medicinal plants in addition to wild roses, willow forests, herbs, and many crops and plants used for agriculture. You must travel to Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary or Hemis National Park with Joy My Trip, which serve as the majority of these animals’ habitats, in order to see these mammals and birds.

Wildlife in Leh Ladakh Travel Guide

Numerous creatures and birds that are well adapted to the severely cold weather of the Indian Himalayas now call the cold desert of the union territory home because of its distinctive topography and temperature. However, a large portion of the wildlife in Leh Ladakh is now listed as an endangered species and is in danger of going extinct. Additionally, Ladakh is well-known for its abundance of migrating species, including the Black-necked Crane, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Vulture, and others.

Wildlife in Leh Ladakh is fortunate to be home to a variety of bird species as well as unusual animals roaming freely in their natural habitat, making it an unrivalled destination for wildlife. Ladakh has a distinctive alpine, floral, and faunal variety due to its arid plateaus and uplands. Ladakh’s unique ecology affords wildlife enthusiasts and photography enthusiasts the opportunity to witness some of the region’s most stunning and endangered wildlife species against the breathtaking backdrop of the region’s majestic mountains, snow-capped peaks, and crystal blue lakes.

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Blue sheep, Yaks, Marmots, Tibetan Hares, Ibex, Wild Asses, Bharals, the Tibetan antelope known as the Chiru, and other animals can be seen; Around 225 different bird species may be found in Ladakh, and many of them can be spotted in high-altitude wetlands like Tsomoriri Lake. Ladakh is home to the endangered snow leopard, which is also its main draw.

Also, a trip to Hemis National Park is essential if you want to learn about other species that live in the bitter cold. A protected area known as Hemis National Park offers refuge to numerous conserved and endangered species.

Amazing Himalayan Wildlife in Leh Ladakh

YAK

The yak (dong), a yak wild ox, is the largest creature in the frigid desert. Yaks are employed as beasts of burden to plough fields and carry cargo. A yak can grow to about 6 feet tall and weigh up to 1000 kg. Yaks have relatively tiny ears, a broad forehead, and smooth, usually dark-colored horns. In defense, they deploy their horns. The tail extends far. There is a pronounced hump over the shoulders shared by both sexes. Yaks have thick black coats that protect them from the bitterly cold Himalayan climate. Yaks’ thick hair is used to make ropes and blankets. Yak herds travel to better pastures on the lower slopes during the winter, where they spend their summers, and then they return to the high altitude pastures during the warmer months. Yaks can endure colder than -40 °C. Yaks consume grass, moss, and leaves for food.

The Great Tibetan Sheep (Ladakhi: nyan)

There are eight species of wild sheep in India, with the Tibetan Sheep being the dominant one. The Great Tibetan sheep, or Nyan, is the biggest and most magnificent wild sheep (Ovis ammon). The parts of the C Tibetan sheep are pale with black lines and copper red in colour. In the valleys and along the Indus and Shyok rivers, you can see Tibetan sheep. Big horns are on Nyan. The nyan is a large mammal with horns that can reach 145 cm in length. It rarely descends below a height of 4,500 metres. The Ovis Ammon is between 130 and 190 centimeters long. Herbs, grasses, and sedges are the Nyan’s primary food sources.

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The Ovis Orientalis, popularly known as the red sheep, is the smallest species of wild sheep. The Ovis Orientalis is referred to as Shapo in Ladakhi. The Shapo weighs between 35 and 90 kg and has a body size between 110 and 150 cm. The Ovis Orientalis has back-curved, crinkled, and slender horns. These sheep favour the green mountain slopes, which are typically between 3,000 and 4,000 metres high. Males and females live apart among the Shapo’s large populations. This species gathers around December or January, and they give birth to their young in May. Given that hunters may easily get to the urial, there is a tremendous need for security. Due to a declining population, there are just about 1500 Shapo in Ladakh. They relax in the evening after their morning grazing. They go to lower inclines in the winter. In the adjacent districts of Fotu La, Lamayuru, Rizong, Wanla, and Kargil, the Ovis Orientalis is visible.

Snow Leopard

The Snow Leopard, also known as Rchan in Ladakh, is one of the world’s most alluring cat species. The Rchan’s hair is thick and delicate. The limbs of the bodily components have dark grey patches on them. The leopard’s thick tail is close to one-third of its length. They are usually observed in Ladakh’s mountainous terrain. The snow leopard can be seen on The Zanskar Valley and Hemis National Park. The Ladakh region is home to 250–350 leopards overall. They can jump up to 6 metres, live alone in the remote Rocky Mountains, and pursue a variety of prey, including Blue Sheep, Asiatic Ibex, sheep, and marmot. The snow leopard species has been listed as endangered, and measures are being taken to save the remaining leopard population from extinction.

For more information about wildlife in Leh Ladakh and holiday packages to Leh Ladakh contact Joy My Trip.