Leh, Oct. 7 -- India's first high-altitude wildlife safari in Ladakh has become a reality, with Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday flagging off six vehicles for the safari focused on snow leopards.
This marks a major step towards promoting responsible wildlife tourism and community-based conservation in the Union Territory, while creating sustainable livelihood for the local youth and communities, a Lok Bhavan spokesman said.
He said the decision to introduce wildlife safari in Ladakh was announced on August 5 this year and the same has been executed in just two months.
This initiative by the L-G is being conducted by the Snow Leopard and High-Altitude Nature Conservation (SHAN) Society, in collaboration with the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, UT Ladakh, the spokesman said.
He said the vehicles will initially operate in identified areas like Rumbak, Shang and Uley, where snow leopards are frequently sighted.
This will provide the visitors with rare guided opportunity to witness Ladakh's distinctive flora and fauna.
Specially designed open-back vehicles, trained local drivers and wildlife guides will be deployed, with suitable routes being identified across Hemis National Park, Changthang and Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, besides Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, Kargil and Drass districts, the spokesman said.
He said the objective behind introducing guided safaris is to prevent the incidents of illegal off-roading and disturbing wildlife, besides strengthening sustainable and responsible
eco-friendly tourism and enhancing visitor experience.
It envisages a unique model of environment conservation in Ladakh, wherein the government alone will not be responsible for environment protection but the local communities will be made active partners in protecting Ladakh's fragile ecosystem and wildlife, he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.