Lynx Concentration in Ladakh

Lynx News: click HERE for No Frames Option

Lynx Concentration in Ladakh

CAT NEWS
Issue 13, Autumn 1990

The highest known concentration of lynx Lynx lynx in the Himalayas has been located in the Nubra Valley in Ladakh by researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). It is threatened by increasing human presence, local exploitation of forest patches for fuel, poaching and snaring.

R.S. Chundawat, who has been studying snow leopard in Ladakh, estimates that there are 14-16 lynx in an area 36 km long at the 3,000 m. high confluence of the Shyok and Nubra Rivers between the Karakoram and Ladakh ranges. The lynx are found on islands in the riverbeds with thick patches of Hippophae scrub forest growing up to a height of 5 m.

In a report in the WII newsletter, Chundawat said movement through the spiny vegetation was restricted to narrow paths like tunnels, which were used by lynx. Fresh signs of lynx were found in every forest patch, where the hare Lepus spp was fairly common. Two lynx carcasses were found, one killed to protect livestock and the other a natural death.

The conservation problem arises from the high human population in the area around the large villages of Diskit, Sumur and Hunder. The forest patches are the only source of fuelwood for cooking and heating. Pressure has increased as a result of army settlements and other developments. However, export of fuelwood from the valley is banned. The local people have a system rotation of 6-7 years or more, depending on the size of the fuelwood patch. This provides adequate time for regeneration. During winter the area is disturbed by entire villages out chopping fuel wood and grazing sheep and goats. Snaring is common, mainly for fun by young people.

Chundawat says that at least 2-3 lynx appear to be killed every year, mostly around Sumur. Wolves are the main livestock predators and action against them affects the lynx population. The forest patches are the only available grazing areas in winter.

"If the present use pattern continues it is doubtful that any habitat will be left for this endangered species in 10-15 years. There is an urgent need to look into these problems seriously," says Chundawat.

But he believes that timely action could save the habitats and help the lynx, although the closeness of the area to the border with Pakistan-held Kashmir complicates the issue. He suggests that alternate energy sources, such as kerosene and solar energy, and plantations could reduce pressure on the forest patches. Rotational harvesting of the forest could be more effectively enforced. More vigilance is required against poaching and snaring.

Chundawat, R.S. 1990. Lynx Survey in Nubra Valley, Ladakh, Wildlife Institute of India Newsletter Vol. 5, No. 2 March-April 1990, pp 42-44.

Cat News is published twice a year by the Cat Specialist Group and mailed to Group members across the globe. Friends of the Cat Group is a project set up to enable those interested in furthering the conservation of felids, to contribute to a fund administered by the Chairman of the Cat Specialist Group, World Conservation Union (IUCN).

To become a Friend and receive your complimentary annual subscription to Cat News, simply mail a minimum donation of Sfr.45 or US$40 to:

IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group,
Chairman, Peter Jackson,
1172 Bougy-Villars, Switzerland