Q. Could you begin by telling us a bit about yourself? What inspired you to pursue conservation work, particularly focused on snow leopards and Ladakh’s high-altitude ecosystem? Tell us about the Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust—its vision, mission, and how it operates in the region. Please also share your journey with the Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLC-IT). 

Jullay! I am Tsewang Namgail, born in the beautiful village of Skurbuchan. Since childhood, I’ve always been deeply connected to nature. Our classes often took place in meadows and along fringes of agricutlural fields. I was naturally drawn to wildlife, always curious about the lives, habits, and struggles of wild animals.
My academic journey took me from Jammu to Punjab University, followed by an MPhil in Norway and a PhD in the Netherlands. I was fortunate to work with the U.S. government for three years, focusing on bird migration, reptiles in the Mojave Desert and human-wildlife conflict.

The tragic passing of my dear friend Rinchen Wangchuk—a visionary, deeply concerned about wildlife - left a void in the conservation landscape of Ladakh. Therefore, I returned to Ladakh in 2013 to carry forward his legacy. I’ve since dedicated myself to spreading awareness and knowledge through Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLC-IT).

Our organization has been working incessantly to spread the conservation message among the people of Ladakh. More recently, we have started educating children about nature and biodiversity conservation. To this end, we’ve launched a program to promote contextualized and place-based learning among children in villages across Ladakh. .

One of our key initiatives, "Students for Students," invites Ladakhi graduate and postgraduate students studying in institutions outside Ladakh to learn, explore, and contribute to nature conservation in Ladakh. Our awareness campaigns are conducted not just in secular institutions such as schools and colleges but also in monasteries and nunneries, ensuring that the message reaches every corner of society.

In Ladakh, the conflict between humans and snow leopards began years ago when leopards started attacking livestock in poorly built corrals and other animal shelters. These frequent and often devastating attacks led to growing frustration among farmers, with some villagers resorting to persecuting snow leopards.

In response to this, SLC-IT was co-founded in 2003 by Rinchen Wangchuk, popularly known as Ashok, and Rodney Jackson, an American snow leopard expert. The organization identified the practical needs of communities affected by leopard attacks. In areas like Changthang, where materials like wood were scarce, leopards could easily access poorly built livestock shelters. To address this, we provided protective wire-mesh, which have proven to reduce 90% of livestock losses caused by predator attacks inside these structures.

Since pastures and grazing lands in valleys remain vulnerable to livestock depredation the snow leopard, the organization also began promoting eco-tourism and homestays in such areas, which helped in offsetting livestock loss. Tourists visiting Ladakh to see the snow leopard are encouraged to avoid personal camping and instead stay with local families in nearby villages. This not only ensures safety but also supports the local economy.

Additionally, these homestays market handmade animal-themed toys as souvenirs, allowing visitors to take a piece of Ladakh’s wildlife culture back home.

Together, eco-tourism and protective measures have helped ease the anger and losses faced by livestock owners, providing them with new income sources and renewed hope.

Through continuous awareness efforts, SLC-IT has fostered a deeper understanding of the snow leopard’s role in the ecosystem. Communities now recognize that predators are an essential part of the interdependent food chain, and protecting them is crucial for maintaining the balance of nature.

Q. How does SLC-IT monitor and track snow leopards in Ladakh? What are the major threats facing snow leopards today in Ladakh and across the Himalayan belt? 

Our ecosystem is home to thousands of species with populations running into billions. Among them, snow leopards are apex predators and keystone species, playing a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. Conserving such species is not just a responsibility of conservation organizations, but it is the responsibility of every citizen, who receives benefits in the form of ecosystem services. 

Thankfully, human attitudes toward wild predators are gradually evolving towards a more positive one. There is a growing awareness of the interdependence within nature, and with increased knowledge, the aggression once prevalent among villagers and livestock owners has significantly reduced.

However, climate change poses one of the biggest threats to the biodiversity of Ladakh. Melting glaciers and diminishing water bodies are rapidly destroying the natural habitats of snow leopards and countless other species. As these ecosystems deteriorate, the risk of extinction grows for every species.

As an organization dedicated to the conservation and well-being of snow leopards, we implement scientific surveys and monitoring to assess and track their population. Camera trapping is one of the most common tools we use—strategically placed cameras in mountainous regions capture images of snow leopards. Interestingly, no two snow leopards have the same rosette pattern (the dark spots on their fur), making it possible to identify and track individuals. Camera trapping efforts by the wildlife department has put snow leopard population in Ladakh at over 470.

The availability of prey directly affects snow leopard populations. Thus, we also monitor the population of wild herbivores such as the Ladakh Urial, Tibetan Argali, blue sheep (bharal), Himalayan or Asiatic ibex, and Himalayan marmots. Identifying potential habitats—valleys with rich water sources, healthy pastures, and diverse vegetation—is crucial for supporting both predator and prey species.

At this critical juncture, it is important to understand the fragile interdependence among all species in Ladakh. If we continue to exploit nature and its inhabitants recklessly, it is we humans who will be at the receiving end of all the destructive developments. A stark example lies in the Tibetan Plateau, where once-lush grasslands have turned into desert—a warning sign not far from Ladakh.

Protecting snow leopards is not just about saving a species; it's about preserving an entire ecosystem, including the livelihoods and well-being of people who are a part of it.

Q.SLC-IT is well-known for promoting community-based conservation. Could you share some successful examples of community-led initiatives you've supported? What role do eco-tourism and homestay programs play in supporting both conservation efforts and the local economy? 

We spread awareness among communities, encouraging aspiring conservationists to become self dependent and incur advantages from opportunities. 

The initiative of setting up homestays in remote villages to earn a livelihood from tourism along with awareness about Snow Leopards that do not just threaten livestock but also control the population of wild herbivores whose increasing population endangers herbs and grasses on unyielding slopes of Ladakh. 

The reduction of grass cover reduces the capacity of the rangelands to hold or absorb water leading to greater surface run off, raising flood risks during rainy seasons, which are the ecological linkages which I mentioned earlier.

These initiatives have been quite successful in villages such Ulley and Rumbak, where villagers have been encouraged to generate new livelihoods through tourism, which in turn help them in becoming better stewards of wild animals. Today, communities are trying to stand on their own feet. Recently, the villagers of Tar declared their area as the first ‘community conserve area’ in Ladakh. 

Certain communities take longer time to comprehend these dynamics and advices we provide during our awareness programme, but once it is understood people act responsibly for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Q. How does SLC-IT collaborate with government departments such as the Wildlife and Forest Departments, as well as local governance institutions? 

Working with government depends on officers who head the departments, if the officers are genuinely concerned to work for the welfare of the communityand the biodiversity then initiatives can be successfully implemented. 

For Example, few years ago  we conducted a survey of feral dogs as their rapidly increasing population was causing huge damage to wildlife in Changthang region. We collaborated with Wildlife Department for this survey. The departments are well equipped to execute projects on the field. Common goals can be achieved easily if resources are pooled for  common purposes.  

But there are also times, when opinions do not match and working alongside becomes difficult even though the aim is one.

Q. Finally, what message would you like to share with students, tourists, and aspiring conservationists?

I would like to encourage everyone to reflect on the Buddhist’s and ecological concepts of interdependence. In ignorance, we often exploit the environment irresponsibly in pursuit of individual goals and livelihoods, without realizing the mutual dependence that binds all living beings and elements of nature. It is not enough to merely understand interdependence—we must also nurture and protect the delicate bonds that connect us.

It is especially important for young people to grow up with this awareness. When they understand the interconnected nature of life, they are more likely to act mindfully and reduce the reckless activities harming environment and ecology.

Water is a very crucial component of our ecosystem.Today, our riversides are overrun by  camping, recreational activities, tourism, and military activity. These practices, carried out without any care for ecosystem integrity, result in pollution, harming the spiritual as well as ecological integrity of the region. In many traditions, including our own, polluting water bodies is considered a deeply negative act, rendering these sacred spaces unusable for people.

I humbly appeal to all—residents, visitors, and authorities alike—to act with responsibility and compassion, not only towards each other but also towards the natural elements that sustain us.

Message to the readers 

“Let us reflect on the principle of interdependence—a reminder that all life is connected. In seeking livelihood, we must not harm nature. I urge everyone to act with care and compassion towards each other and the environment that sustains us.”