Live Stock and Veterinary

Animals are the most important natural resources in the district. Apart from providing milk, butter, meat, warm fibre and skin, they are essential for ploughing the fields and for transportation. Animal Husbandry is and will continue to be an important part of economy of the district. Livestock rearing is an important occupation of the village folk. The Department of Animal Husbandry is to cater to breeding, treatment and Disease Control Programmes with fodder development to about 0.5 lacs livestock other than sheep and goat which is taken care of by Sheep Husbandry Department. At present the following farms are functioning to met out the breeding requirements in the district apart from 62 field units including 1 ICD block.

1.Cattle Breeding Farm, Changspa.

2. Bull Mother Farm, Agling.

3. Yak Breeding Farm, Nobra.

4. Zangskari Stud Farm, Cangspa.

5. Poultary Farm, Changspa.

6. Russian Marino Farm, Matho.

7. Pashmina Goat Farm, Khuril Nyoma.

8. Mohair Goat Farm, Stakna.

9. Rabbit Farm, Changspa.

10.Fodder Development Farm, Stakna.

11.Pashmina Goat Farm, Upshi.

12. Dairy Goat Farm, Hunder.

Livestock and Poultry Population

Category of Animals	Number of Heads / Birds
Category of Animals	1987	1992	1997	2002
Cattle	23907	24836	34813	37829
DZo-Dzomes	11756	11855	18525	10627
Sheep	56879	79579	94788	156581
Goat	108944	110930	110310 49961	85950 156493
Pashmina Goat	108944	110930	110310 49961	85950 156493
Yak	18454	19916	9256 16106	13276 12355
Others	18454	19916	9256 16106	13276 12355
Total	219820	247116	333759	473111
Poultry	8659	8858	10972	20494

Source: Livestock Census Reports

Breeding Programme

Year	Natural Coverage	A.I. Done	Birth recorded	No. of Animals castrated
1	2	3	4	5
1988-89	1993	0	978	13
1989-90	2428	0	13	55
1990-91	2521	0	1814	195
1991-92	38614	56	34282	14191
1995-97	39672	25	31505	5334
1997-98	67899	0	57567	8302
1998-99	58321	0	55922	9775
1999-2K	60116	0	34828	9168
2000-01	62592	0	51849	11059
2001-02	53865	391	55944	N.A
2002-03	68445	568	50470	11047

Source: Animal Husbandry Department Leh.

Veterinary Units

Year	Units/ Sub-units	Livestock Development Centres	Mobile Dispensaries	Veterinary Asstt. Surgon Centres	Intensive Cattle Development Centres	Mobile Breeding Centre	Others (Speciify)	Total Institutions
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
1990-91	4	31	0	1	7	0	10	53
1991-92	4	31	0	1	7	0	12	55
1996-97	4	31	0	1	7	0	19	62
1997-98	4	31	0	1	7	0	19	62
1998-99	4	31	0	1	7	0	19	62
1999-2K	4	31	0	1	7	0	19	62
2000-01	4	31	0	1	7	0	19	62
2001-02	4	32	0	1	7	0	19	63
2002-03	4	32	0	1	7	0	16	60

Source: Animal Husbandry Department Leh.

Veterinary Personnel

Year/ Block	Veterinary Graduates and above	Veterinary Assistant Surgeons	Senior Compounders	Stock Assistant	Attendants	Others	Total
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
2002-03 Block Wise	7	20	71	35	332	73	538
Leh	5	16	21	18	184	49	293
Nubra	1	2	8	4	37	8	60
Khaltsi	-	1	12	3	30	9	55
Nyoma	1	1	14	8	46	4	74
Durbuk	-	-	10	-	18	1	29
Kharu	-	-	6	2	17	2	27

Source: Animal Husbandry Department, Leh.

Number of Animals Treated at Farms

Blcok	Number of Animals
Blcok	Treated	Cured	Died	No. of Operations Performed
1	2	3	4	5
Leh	19805	19315	490	201
Nubra	18313	16665	1648	0
Nyoma	80813	72890	7943	0
Nyoma	37307	33659	3618	0
Durbuk	6315	5708	607	0
Kharu	2495	2289	206	0

Source: Animal Husbandry Department, Leh.

Sheep Husbandry

The farming of sheep and goat is one of the most important sectors of economy of the district. The scope and potential for development of this sector is far and wide as is evident from its vast alpine pastures. According to 1997 livestock census there are 94788 sheep and 110310 goats. The total goats include 49961 ‘Lena’ goats famous for production of raw material for pashmina shawls.

The tables that follow reflect data on number of sheep and goat centres, breeding and vaccination programme.

Breeding Programme

Year	Insemination Nature			Births		Number of Animals Castrated
	Natural Coverage		AI Done	Births
	Ewes	Does	AI Done	Lambs	Kids
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1991-92	6465	29452	0	3367	29348	14184
1992-93	26888	46550	0	18024	30143	11606
1993-94	23010	52755	0	2885	24020	11799
1994-95	26016	40378	0	15020	29582	14830
1995-96	6930	29886	0	5074	25109	5305
1996-97	15315	53262	0	6188	44649	11822
1997-98	9027	55754	0	4492	51233	8283
1998-99	12500	42333	0	8577	45095	9775
1999-2K	9537	46795	0	7318	25428	9122

Source: Sheep Husbandry Department Leh.

Veterinary Units and Sub-units

Year	Tehsil Units/ Sub-units	Livestock Development Centres	Veterinary Asstt. Surgeon Centres	Mobile Centres	Sheep & Wool Development Centres	Others	Total Institutions
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1991-92	4	9	1	0	39	0	53
1992-93	4	9	1	0	39	6	50
1993-94	4	9	1	0	37	15	72
1994-95	3	9	2	0	40	24	78
1995-96	3	9	1	1	40	0	54
1996-97	2	9	0	0	7	34	52
1997-98	2	9	0	0	41	0	52
1998-99	2	9	0	0	41	0	52
1999-2K	2	9	0	0	41	0	52

Source: Sheep Husbandry Department Leh.

WILDLIFE DIVISION, (LEH)

A Trans – Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir State, got emergence due to the result of a collision between the Indian and the Asian continental pieces. These mountain ranges from 5,800 to 7,600 Meters forming the most striking features of the Jammu and Kashmir State. The snow-swathed mountains, tree – less, wind swept country, Arctic deserts, scattered few water shed developed areas, with scorching sunlight in summer, (+37 degree C); and chilling coldness in winter (-40 degree C); under all these natural and harsh climatic changes nature has endowed the area with a peculiar and conspicuous wildlife heritage.

The region lies between 32 degree – 36’ N; and 76 degree – 79’ E, has the most diverse wild sheep, and Goat community in the world, such as Argali, Urial, Ibex, Blue sheep, but with the same refuge the world’s highly endangered beautiful cat, the “Snow Leopard” The calm Arctic region of the “Changthang” represents the most diverse Wild species notably among them are the Tibetan Gazalle; Tibetan Partridge; Tibetan Snow – Cock and others. The marshes falling in high – Table lands in Eastern Ladakh are also famous for providing excellent breeding grounds to the world’s only Alpine Cranes”. The Black Necked Crane”, the state bird of Jammu and Kashmir, the bird enlisted as one of the critically endangered species.

Decades before, all these rare and endangered species were thriving here in tranquility, but with the passage of time circumstances changed and these rare species were put at the verge of extinction, through the wanton anthropogenic activities. But, with the accent of the global concept, regarding conservation of the highly endangered species, gave authorities a thought to plug this vital gaps and to undertake such activities congenial for the survival of these vulnerable species.

The Wildlife problems were almost neglected which inturn shambled our protective measures, and it is the conservation of this High Altitude Wildlife heritage, the Department of Wildlife Protection (Leh) Division came into its existence in the year April 1988. Soon after its detraction from the Forest Division – Leh where, its activities were almost forest related. The precarious problems were given due attention.

To, mitigate the common and anthropogenic problems, like encroachment, habitat degradation, land reclamation, weed infestation, stream diversion (Wetlands); illegal exploitation of resources, indiscriminate grazing, Crop – Cattle damage, live – stock killing, poaching in the protected areas, the High Altitude region of the Leh – District was divided into one National park and two Wildlife sanctuaries vide Govt. Notification; SRO, No. 158; 155; 152; dated: 19-03-187, under the purview of the section (17) of J&K Wildlife protection Act 1978, subsequently, these protected areas were further divided into three Ranges, in order to render much Wildlife Conservation measures for the species confined to the notified areas.

The essential duty of the Department is to propagate, perpetuate, and to preserve, what had left in the High Altitude protected areas of Leh District, besides, this to initiate measures for keeping an “Ecological Balance” between the existing Wildlife species so, that no ecological component become eliminated from the Trans – Himalayan Ecosystem.

In order to strengthen the Wildlife activities of the Wildlife Division at Leh, the re – organization set up was made by the Govt. by issuing order No: 128 FST of 1991; dated: 13-05-1991 under Endtt. No: FST/ -9 9 /WL/90: dated:13-05-1991 hereunder, the Wildlife Division, Leh was divided into three Wildlife Ranges under the control of the Wildlife Warden, Leh.

1. Wlidlife Range (Leh):

Rizing Wildlife sanctuary- (Proposed)

Hemis High Altitude National Park

Shang Wildlife Sanctuary- (Do)

Saboo –Chakoor Reserve

2. Changthang Wildlife:

Range.(Nyoma).

Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.

Gaya-Miru Wildlife Sanctuary (Proposed)

Noorichan Wetland Reserve.

Pangong Wetland Reserve.

3. Nobra Wildlife Range:

(Diskit)

Karakorum (Nobra-Shayok)

Wildlife Sanctuary.

AREA: (12,350 Sq.kms)

By virtue of the notifications issued during the year 1987, the following Wildlife National Parks and sanctuaries were notified which are controlled by the Wildlife Protection, Division leh since April 1988 they are: -

S.No.	Name of the Protected Area	Block	Area.
1.	Hemis National Park.	Leh-Block, Leh	3,350 Sq.Kms
2.	Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.	Nyoma Block, Nyoma	4,000 Sq.Kms
3.	Karakorum Wildlife Sanctuary.	Nobra Block, Nobra	5,000 Sq.Kms

These all protected areas are harboring some unique, globally threatened and endemic Wildlife species, like the Snow Leopard (Uncia - Uncia). Tibetan Argali (Ovis ammon hodsoni) Tibetan Wild Ass (Equs hemiouns Kiang): Black Necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis): Wild Yak (Bos grunniens - grunniens) etc.

Little description about some of the highly endangered species is also given.

SNOW LEOPARD;(Uncia - uncia)

Local name; Sah, Schan, or Shun; height; 24”

Length; 6.1/2’;Colour gray or white, with a cream or buff tinge while the under wool is dark-gray with white around the eyes and upper lip. Body contains large black spots with dark gray centers forming irregular rosettes. Nocturnal in habit during summer, predates in the higher elevations on Wild sheep and Goat, including marmots and hares, but in Winter stealing in the pen or corral houses taking heavy toll of villagers sheep Goat.

THE BHERAL or BLUE SHEEP (Pseudios nayur) Hodgsoni

Local name: Hindi, Bharal; Bharar: Ladakhi: na, Sna, Size; 36” at the shoulders; Weight: 120-150IbshORNS average,23-24”.Its horns are rounded and smooth and curve backwards over the neck. Colour of the neck and upper parts are Brownish gray, suffused with slaty blue, brown in summer and more distinctly slaty gray in winter. The blue Sheep population is largely exists in all the Wildlife protected areas of Leh Ladakh.

WILD ASS(KIANG): (Equs kiang - kiang)

The animal is Ruddy chestnut or brown above, and white underneath the belly; Height: 4’ at the shoulder, the animal has the stiff black mane; and dark brown stripe down the back. The hairs in the tail tuft are Black and traverse black strips mark the legs. Distribution: Rupshu; Changthang and Changchenmo.

BLACK NECKED CRANE: (Grus nigricollis)

Local name: Tibetan Crane; Description: - At all and over all grayish white bird, with Black head, neck and flight feather, lore and crown are naked dull to bright red .A small tuff of white feathers grows behind the eyes; Beak: Greenish black; Sound: “Gorr-kro gorr -kro” Sexes; alike. Weight 8Kgs:Size: 56cms.Breeding;(May-July) Nest Platform of dead aquatic plants; Incubation period: 28 days .Egg: 2;Clutch size: one sometimes two: Distribution: - Marshes and lakes of Eastern Ladakh, endemic to Tibetan Platue: Arrival: End of May: Departure: End of October.

ESTABLISHMENT CENTRE

The permanent staff working with the Wildlife Division Leh are including both Executive and Ministrial staff. Presently as on 31-03-2002, the summery of the staff working in the establishment is as: -

S.NO	Designation	No	Executive/Ministrial
1.	Wildlife warden	1	Executive
2.	Range officer	3	-
3.	Forester	3	-
4.	Wildlife Guards	24	-
5.	Field operaters	1	-
6.	Head Assistants	1	Ministrial.
7.	Junior Assistants	2	-

The above list includes the promotion of two foresters, and one senior Assitants besides, the seven Wildlife Guards recruited during the year 2000-2001.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT

1. To create conditions congenial both for the existing Wild animals and for the inhabitants as they play a crucial role in maintenance of the ecological balance of the Protected Areas.

2. To identify the importance of the area by identifying the flora and fauna of the Protected Areas.

3. To avert the hazards responsible for the soil-run-off, loss of vegetative cover, depletion of wildlife wealth and to create ways for their early mitigation.

4. To adopt latest and natural management techniques for the conservation and propagation of the population size of the endangered sheep and goat species like the Shape, Bharal, Ibex, Argali etc besides Snow leopard, Black Necked Crane and Wild Ass (Kiang).

5. To co-operate with the in-habitants, in order to avert the killing both by the Snow leopard and the Wolves and to create ways for solving the problems helpful for both the sides.

6. To tabulate the records of all the renewable and non-renewable resources of the protected areas in order to monitor the population fluctuation trends from time to time of rare and endangered.

7. To develop the area as a nucleus of faunal activity, to attract the attention of conservationist, naturalists, ecologists, ornithologists besides tourists. To develop the wildlife rich areas, so as to restock to restock the buffer and fringe zones by normal migration.

8. To ensure people’s participation in Wildlife conservation programme and there by develop Wildlife conservation consciousness in the masses in general and among the school children in Particular and to reduce the soil erosion hazards occurring from time to time due to habitat degradation.

9. To involve the participation of the NGO’s in various development works, which will help to protect the safeguard, all the protected areas.

DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES-YEAR (2000-2001)-(2001-2002)

RESEARCH, SURVEY AND CENSUS

Most of the areas rich in Wildlife bio –diversity were surveyed and proposed to be taken as Wildlife Reserves, Chakoor reserves or be included with the National Park or Sanctuaries.

S.NO	AREA	PROPOSED
1.	Liker, Basgo, Hemis Shukpachan.	Rizong Wildlife Sanctuary
2.	Saboo.	Chakoor Reserve.
3.	Gaya-Miru	To be included with H.N. Park.
4.	Pangong Wetland Reserve	Wetland Reserve.

Besides, it several other areas where the existence of some of the rare species like

Tibetan Gazella;(Procapra picticaudata); Ibex (Capra ibex) and Wild Ass (Equs kiang - kiang) were also surveyed.

CENSUS

1. BLACK NECKED CRANE: The Census of Black Necked Crane was conducted in different nesting in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary during the year 2000-2001,2001-2002. The details of the Black Necked Cranes in the sanctuary till October annually (outward migration) reveals that:-

S.NO.	Nesting Places	No (2000-2001yr.)	No. (2001-2002yr.)
1.	Long Purma	2	2
2.	Tsgul Tso	4	4
3.	Tso-Nayak	4	4
4.	Lal pahari(Chaljam)	3	4
5.	Long demo (N)	3	4
6.	Long demo (S)	-	3
7.	Budh shadoo(Anlay)	2	4
8.	Phuckchey(Koyul)	2	4
9.	Peldo-korzak(Tsomoriri)	2	4
10.	Lamso (Chumur)	5	4
11.	Tsokar Tso	4	3
12.	Stanglung(Nyoma)	4	-
13.	Ragar (Anlay)	3	-
		38	40

2. WILD ASS (Equs hemonius kiang)

The census operation of the Wild Ass (kiang) was carried out from 12^th, of November-19^th, of November 2001 in all the protected areas of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. The detail whatsoever was ascertained is as:

STATEMENT SHOWING THE CENSUS OF WILD ASS IN CHANGTHANG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY DURING THE PERIOD (12-19^TH,NOVEMBER 2001)

Name of the Area

Male

Female

Juvenile

Total

Staglung Nallah

Thugjay to yagong

Via Tsokar(7 villages)

106

Nyoma toAnly

Via Nidder,kongr

Etc (16 villages

157

Anlay to Nyoma

Via Kalaktartar

(10 village)

187

323

Nyoma to Chushul

Via Tsaga

(4 villages)

149

255

Chushul to Tangse

Via Kargyam

(1 village)

Thangung ray-Anlay

Nyoma to Koyul

Via Demchok

(5 villages)

115

Koyul to Nyoma

(3 villages)

111

200

Dungdilla to Fobrang

Via Lungkar

Sumdo,Kaiger tso,to

Chumur via Latsam

Chumur to Lamtso

Via Nardulla

171

Lamtso-Dungte

Via lamtso to Korzak

134

223

497

967

253

1717

RESARCH

Research work is on for the following topics.
Impact of depredation on livestock by Snow leopards and Wolves.
Impact of over grazing by live –stock on Wild Sheep, Goat and Wild Ass population.
Identification of floral species in the protected areas of Leh Division.
Identification of insects inside the protected Ares, their impact on bird species.
Eutriphication processes in different wetland reserves.
Impact of tourism in the protected areas.

PUBLICITY

Two workshops on broader spectrum related with Wildlife Conservation were conducted district besides inviting the Wildlife biologists of National and International in Leh repute.
Workshop on Tsomoriri Wetland Reserve was conducted in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India from 23^rd of July to 29^th, of July 2000.
Workshop on the Management planning for the Trans-Himalayan protected areas were conducted in collaboration with the International Snow- Leopard Trust; U.S FISH wildlife Deptt. U.S. wildlife Institute of India (WII). Dehradon from 25^th, of August to 29^th,August.2000.i
International Wetland Day was observed on 2^nd,of February 2001in Tsomoriri Wetland Reserve at Korzak (Nyoma).

WILDLIFE DIGNITORIES INVITED

Dr.A.K.Kundra Spl. Secretary M.O.E.; G.O.I. New Delhi.

Dr.Sidharth Koul Director (wetlands) -

Sh.A.K.Srivastava D.I.G. (Wildlife) -

Sh.Rodney Jakson Sr. Scientist. Snow leopard Conservancy

Programme (S.L.C.) U.S.A.

Sh.Darla Hillard Naturalist -

Sh.Don-o-Hunter Sr. Scientist University of Hull, Hull (U.K)

Sh.S.K. Mukherjy Director Wildlife Institute of India, (WII)

Sh.V.B.Swarkar Joint Director -

Sh.V.B.Mathur Sr. Scientist -

Sh.J.L.Fox. - Earth Watch Study Group (Norway)

Sh.Prakishat Gautam. - W.W.F (Wetlands) India.

Sh.Rishad Naroji. Ornithologist Raptor Conservation Society

(Bombay)

Rtd.Sh.Col.T.R. Chakoo - Crane Conservationist. Banglore.

(India)

NATURE TRACK

27 students of three schools viz. Govt. Girls Hr. Sec. School (Leh); Govt. High School, (Phiyang) were taken on a Nature Trek to Tsomoriri Wetland Reserve.Besides, wide range publicity, through Seminars, Symposia, Debates, Wildlife Conservation Marches, prizes were also distributed among the meritorious students during the Wildlife Week Celebrations from (2^nd -8^th) of October during the year 2000-01 &2001-02 respectively. Wildlife publicity material like brochures, pamphlets, badges were also distributed besides that large size hoardings depicting endemic wildlife heritage of Leh, Ladakh were raised at vital places.Providence of 2.7Qtls. of Minirialised salt –licks at different places of the protected areas were established during the severe winter months.

ROADS & PATHS

In order to facilitate the Wild animals, field staff and especially the local people besides, that small culverts were also constructed inside the protected areas. They are:

S. No	Area	Place	Distance Covered.(Kms)
1.	Tirth-Nobra	Nobra	2.00
2.	Stock-Hemis	Leh	1.373
3.	Dang-dang	Kaya (Hemis. N. Park)	1.705

BRIDGES &CULVERTS (2000-01)

S. No	Area	Place (Range)	Bridges/Culverts.(Nos.)
1.	Chomor-Khalsar	Nobra	1.No
2.	Piochan –khalsar	-	1.No
3.	Gunes –Bogdang	-	1.No
4.	Kharutse Nallah	Leh	1.No
5.	Sku	-	1.No
6.	Shaskyam Markha	-	1.No
7.	Markha	-	1.No
		(2001-02)
8.	Tia-Khatsa	-	1.No
9.	Rondo-Dok	Nobra	1.No
10.	Shang-Chakdo	Leh	1.No

CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHECK POST

The already constructed check post was provided the infrastructure material, including the construction of a bathroom and a lawn during the year 2000-01&2001-02 respectively. The aim was to re develop the gutted check post to accommodate the coming Wildlife Guests/Experts.

CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAMME

A mature female Snow leopard under the captivity since 7/97 was trans-located to Padma Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP), Darjeeling (West Bengal) on May 17^th, 2000.

LIVESTOCK COMPENSATION CASES

About 86 Nos of live –stock depredation cases pending since 1995 were liquidated by paying an amount of Rs.3.00 lacs during the year 2000-01.The detail is as:

S.No	Place (Range)	No. of Cases	Amount paid( In. lacs)
1.	Leh	53	1,93,250
2.	Changthang	17	65,900
3.	Nobra	16	40,850
4	Leh	61	2,15,500
5.	Changthang	32	1,37,200
6.	Hemis N.Park.	14	41,400
7.	Nobra	24	93,800
	Total	131	4,87,900

BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME;(China Border) 2000-01

CONSTRUCTION OF RANGE OFFICE/RESIDENTAL QUARTER

The incomplete Range office/ Residential Quarter was completed in Nyoma to accommodate the Range officer and other Wildlife staff.

CONSTRUCTION OF NATURE INTERPRETATION CENTRE

In order to inculcate the Wildlife conservation among the masses in general and in the school children in particular, a Nature Interpretation Centre (NIC) was constructed in the (Nyoma) block.

REVENUE COMPONENT

A record revenue component of Rs. 4,35,383.00 was collected during the year 2001 – 2002 against previous record of Rs. 2,77,021.00.