A one-day workshop on the conservation strategy for the Himalayan brown bear was organized by WWF-India in collaboration with the Wildlife Department, Kargil, on December 26.

The event witnessed participation from various dignitaries and stakeholders, including Executive Councillor for Wildlife, Er. Punchok Tashi; Councillors Abdul Wahid, Abdul Samad, Abdul Hadi, and Manzoor ul Hussain; Assistant Director of Tourism, Rehmatullah Bhat; Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Dr. Gulzar Hussain; Divisional Forest Officer, Kargil, Mohd Ali; Wildlife Warden, Raza Ali Abidi; Principal of GDC Drass, Amjad Hussain; WWF-India Landscape Coordinator, Rohit Rattan; Senior Programme Officer, WWF, Rigzin Dawa, and representatives from NGOs such as JUIAK and Baseej-e-Zaraat, among others.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Dr. Jaffer Akhoon stressed the importance of preserving Kargil’s wildlife, highlighting the critical role of flora and fauna in maintaining the region’s ecological balance. He acknowledged the challenges posed by human-wildlife conflicts, particularly livestock losses, and called for increasing compensation for affected individuals.

Dr. Akhoon directed the Wildlife Warden to draft a comprehensive plan to mitigate these issues and pledged full support from the Hill Council to bolster conservation initiatives. He also extended gratitude to WWF-India for their consistent efforts in wildlife preservation across Ladakh.

Executive Councillor Er. Punchok Tashi applauded WWF-India’s conservation programs and underlined the significance of raising awareness among local communities about the ecological importance of protecting wildlife. He urged all departments to collaborate for the effective preservation of the Himalayan ecosystem and encouraged stakeholders to continue learning and adapting best practices in wildlife conservation.

Wildlife Warden Raza Ali Abidi provided an overview of ongoing departmental initiatives and outlined key challenges in protecting the Himalayan brown bear population.

WWF-India Landscape Coordinator, Rohit Rattan, shared insights into the organization’s extensive conservation efforts in Ladakh, such as work on Tso Moriri, black-necked cranes, and human-wildlife conflict resolution.

Senior Programme Officer Rigzin Dawa and Assistant Programme Officer Mohd Kazim presented a detailed presentation on species conservation projects, collaborative initiatives, and human-brown bear interactions in Kargil.

The workshop concluded with discussions among stakeholders, focusing on the threats faced by the species and identifying both immediate and long-term strategies for conservation.

This collaborative initiative marks another step forward in safeguarding the unique biodiversity of Ladakh and fostering coexistence between humans and wildlife.