Why in news?
The Ladakh State Wildlife Board has proposed a major revision of the boundaries of the Karakoram and Changthang wildlife sanctuaries. In a meeting held on 19 September 2025, the board suggested expanding the Karakoram sanctuary to 16,550 square kilometres and the Changthang sanctuary to 9,695 square kilometres—much larger than the areas notified in 1987. The proposal, which awaits central government approval, aims to clarify the sanctuaries’ extents while excluding certain inhabited zones to facilitate local development and tourism.
Background
The Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the Union Territory of Ladakh along the Nubra and Shyok rivers. It borders Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir and is adjacent to Hemis National Park. The landscape includes snow‑covered peaks, alpine meadows and deep ravines. Average temperatures remain below zero in the highest parts even during summer, and the terrain supports cold‑desert flora and fauna.
Key features
- Mountainous terrain: The sanctuary contains peaks such as Saltoro Kangri, Saser Kangri I and K12. The Shyok and Nubra rivers provide water, and glaciers feed many streams.
- Flora: The vegetation includes alpine plants, medicinal herbs and shrubs like Rosa webbiana and Ephedra. These hardy species are adapted to cold, arid conditions.
- Fauna: The area is home to species such as the Siberian ibex, bharal (blue sheep), Tibetan gazelle, Ural sheep and snow leopard. The Tibetan antelope (chiru) and Bactrian camel are also found in parts of the sanctuary.
Proposed boundary revision
- Expanded protection: The board proposes increasing the Karakoram sanctuary’s area from the roughly 5,000 sq km notified in 1987 to 16,550 sq km, reflecting its actual extent. Changthang sanctuary would grow from around 4,000 sq km to 9,695 sq km.
- Exclusions: Approximately 1,742 sq km of the Nubra–Shyok river corridor would be excluded from the Karakoram sanctuary to accommodate villages. A smaller exclusion of 164 sq km is proposed for Changthang. This would allow local communities to develop homestays, guest houses and small‑scale tourism infrastructure.
- High Conservation Value Areas (HCVAs): The Wildlife Institute of India has identified ten HCVAs in the Karakoram sanctuary and seventeen in Changthang. These zones host sensitive habitats and wildlife corridors and would receive the highest level of protection.
- Supporting border communities: Officials noted that depopulation of border villages threatens both socio‑economic stability and strategic vigilance. Permitting modest tourism and infrastructure development aims to encourage residents to remain and prosper in these remote areas.
Conclusion
The proposal to redraw the Karakoram and Changthang sanctuaries reflects an effort to balance conservation with local livelihoods and national security. By accurately mapping boundaries and carving out areas for sustainable development, Ladakh’s administration hopes to protect biodiversity while supporting border communities.
Source: Economic Times