Lok Sabha Question No. 2368 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Wildlife Research and Rehabilitation Centre in Ladakh
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Mohmad Haneefa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2368.

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## Wildlife Research and Rehabilitation Centre in Ladakh

## 2368. SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  increasing  instances  of  human  wildlife conflict in Ladakh, especially involving snow leopards and wild yaks;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  compensation  schemes  available  for  loss  of  livestock  or damage to crops due to wildlife attack in Ladakh;
- (c) whether any wildlife corridors or eco-sensitive zones have been identified in the region and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether there is any proposal to establish a wildlife research and rehabilitation centre in Ladakh, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

No  human  causality  has  been  reported  due  to  attack  by  wild  animals  in Ladakh as per the information given by Union Territory Administration of Ladakh. Livestock loss due to attack by wild animals during the last three

- (a) and (b) years is as under:

| Financial Year   |   No. livestock attack cases |   No. of livestock killed |
|------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2022-23          |                          424 |                      1577 |
| 2023-24          |                          402 |                      1093 |
| 2024-25          |                          447 |                      1380 |

The  Administration  of  Union  Territory  Ladakh  has  notified  ex-gratia compensation schemes for cases of livestock loss, human death, and injury caused by wildlife. These schemes aim to provide immediate relief to local residents affected by human-wildlife conflict.

Further, there is currently no compensation scheme for crop damage caused by wildlife. However,  the  Department  of Wildlife Protection,  Union Territory of Ladakh, is actively working to safeguard agricultural lands by providing  chain-link  fencing  to  local  communities.  This  intervention  is designed to reduce crop depredation and support the livelihoods of farmers residing in Protected Areas.

- (c) and (d) There are three Protected Areas (PAs) in the Union Territory of Ladakh:
- i. High Altitude Cold Desert (Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary)
- ii. Karakoram (Nubra-Shyok) Wildlife Sanctuary
- iii. Hemis High Altitude National Park

No  specific  wildlife  corridors  have  been  formally  notified  in  Ladakh. However, given the unique and fragile highaltitude landscape of the region and  the  free-ranging  nature  of  wildlife  such  as  snow  leopards,  Tibetan antelope (chiru), wild yak, and other migratory species, natural movement corridors do exist across the landscape, particularly between these Protected Areas and adjoining habitats, including transboundary areas.

To  strengthen  wildlife  conservation  efforts,  Rescue  and  Rehabilitation Centres  are  currently  operational  in  both  Leh  and  Kargil  districts  of  the Union Territory of Ladakh, providing essential care to injured wild animals before safely releasing them back into their natural habitats.

No  proposal  to  establish  a  wildlife  research  and  rehabilitation  centre  in Ladakh has been received by the Ministry as on date.

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