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Mammals in Ladakh

Ladakh is home to several rare and endangered species of mammal as well as having some of the richest diversity of sheep and goats. Trekkers outside the busiest tourist season or on less frequented trails are likely to see at least one or two different species. The most commonly encountered is the marmot. This member of the squirrel family lives in deep burrows on mountain sides and will allow you to get quite close before giving a whistle of alarm and disappearing underground. Occasionally you'll come across martens, weasels, hares and pikas (a relative of the hare, but with round ears and no tail) and see foxes (Vulpes vulpes) along the trails in summer. Wolves (Canis lupus), common and widespread throughout the mountains, rarely appear until winter when they descend to the villages to prey on the villagers' livestock. They have occasionally worried trekkers' ponies in parts of the Chang Tang during the summer months. Among the various wild sheep and goats, bharal (Pseudois nayaur), or blue sheep, are the most numerous and are commonly seen. These homed, grey-brown sheep-like animals have characteristics of both sheep and goats. They prefer rugged, steep terrain and large herds are often encountered in the Hemis National Park on the Markha Valley trek where they help maintain the healthy snow leopard population that preys on them.

Wildlife of Ladakh Mammals in Ladakh :: Birds in Ladakh :: Snow Leopard in Ladakh Mammals in Ladakh :: Birds in Ladakh :: Snow Leopard in Ladakh