ZANSKAR: Livestock losses, compensation issues and measures to reduce encounters between people and brown bears were at the centre of a multi-stakeholder workshop held in Zanskar on Thursday, bringing together village representatives, government departments and conservation experts.
Organised by WWF-India in coordination with the Wildlife, Sheep Husbandry, Forest and Animal Husbandry departments, the workshop was titled “Understanding Human–Brown Bear Interactions and Sympatric Wildlife in Zanskar.” Organisers described it as the first initiative of its kind in the newly formed Zanskar district.
The workshop brought together Lambardars from several villages, District Sheep Husbandry Officer Zanskar, the Principal of Government Degree College Zanskar, departmental officials and WWF-India representatives.
Discussions focused on the challenges faced by communities living alongside wildlife, particularly livestock losses attributed to brown bear encounters, and on practical measures to mitigate such conflict.
The WWF-India team made a presentation on brown bear conflict and community experiences, followed by an open discussion during which local representatives raised concerns and offered suggestions on reducing losses and improving institutional response.
Muhammad Kazim of WWF-India read out a message from Ankit Sinha, IFS, Wildlife Warden, Kargil, who stressed the need for coordinated efforts involving livestock owners, local representatives, residents and government departments to reduce human–wildlife conflict and facilitate coexistence.
Rohit Rattan, Landscape Coordinator, WWF-India, outlined the organisation’s conservation work in Ladakh and proposed greater emphasis on community-based conservation.
Officials subsequently responded to concerns raised by participants. Dr Asif, DSHO Zanskar; Dr Anwar of the Animal Husbandry Department; and representatives of the Wildlife and Forest departments addressed issues relating to livestock protection, conflict mitigation and compensation.
Dr Asif said the Sheep Husbandry Department would continue working with livestock owners to protect their herds and livelihoods. He also assured participants that the matter of livestock compensation would be taken up with the concerned departments to streamline the processing of cases.
The workshop concluded with a discussion on future action, with participants emphasising stronger coordination among departments and greater community involvement in managing human–brown bear conflict.
