THREATS & CHALLENGES
In the Kargil region, where the rugged mountains of the Karakoram, Zanskar, and Greater Himalayas intersect, the natural habitat of Himalayan brown bears is rapidly shifting and shrinking. The Suru and Drass valleys, extending towards Zanskar and the Deosai Plains in Pakistan—a known bear territory—serve as critical movement corridors for these bears. For centuries, they have traversed these high-altitude landscapes, but decades of border conflicts and habitat fragmentation have significantly reduced their numbers.
Himalayan brown bears are omnivorous, primarily feeding on shrub shoots and roots in the mountains. However, shrinking breeding grounds, depleting natural food sources and easy access to anthropogenic food sources force them to venture into lower reaches in the villages around Drass, Suru and Zanskar in search of sustenance. This shift has led to increased human-bear conflict, particularly in areas like Drass, where livestock depredation is now a recurring issue. Additionally, climate change and shorter winter months is leading to dramatic shifts in their hibernation and feeding behavior.
In some villages of Drass, nearly all households have stopped rearing goats and sheep due to constant bear attacks. This marks a significant economic loss, as livestock rearing was traditionally a vital source of income, with animals sold in winter when local market supplies dwindle. The growing conflict underscores the urgent need for community-led conservation efforts to balance human livelihoods and wildlife preservation in the Kargil region.