Recently, a proposal of redrawing the boundaries and expanse of the Karakoram wildlife sanctuary in Ladakh was received by the central government.

About Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary
The Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary is a significant high-altitude protected area located in the Indian Union Territory of Ladakh.
Here is an overview of the sanctuary:
1. Location and Geography

• Location: Situated in the Leh district of Ladakh, in the easternmost reaches of the Karakoram mountain range.
• Altitude: It is an extremely high-altitude cold desert sanctuary, with elevations ranging from approximately 4,200m to over 7,500m.
• Size and Establishment: It covers a large area of approximately 5,000 square kilometers and was established in 1987.
• Rivers: The Shyok and Nubra rivers, along with their tributaries, are the major water sources for the region, giving it an alternative name: the Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Significance: Its location is critically important, as it borders China and Pakistan and is close to the Siachen Glacier area. It is managed by the Wildlife Warden in Kargil, Ladakh.

2. Flora and Fauna (Biodiversity)
The sanctuary is characterized by a harsh, cold desert climate with extremely low precipitation, leading to sparse but unique high-altitude biodiversity.

Category	Key Species
Mammals	Tibetan Antelope (Chiru): The sanctuary is one of the few places in India that supports a migratory population of this species, which is hunted for its fine underfur, shahtoosh. Snow Leopard, Siberian Ibex, Himalayan Wolf, Tibetan Argali (the largest wild sheep), Bharal (Blue Sheep), Tibetan Gazelle, and Himalayan Brown Bear.
Birds	Himalayan Snowcock, Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), Golden Eagle, and Black-necked Crane (seasonal).
Flora (Vegetation)	The vegetation is sparse, consisting mainly of cold desert flora, alpine pastures, and broad-leaved shrubs like Rosia webbiana, Ephedra, and Caragana species. It is also noted for containing several rare and endangered medicinal plants.

 
3. Conservation Importance

• Trans-Himalayan Ecosystem: The sanctuary forms a crucial part of the larger trans-Himalayan ecosystem, offering a habitat corridor for some of the rarest mountain species in the world.
• Key Endangered Species: It is essential for the conservation of high-altitude species like the Snow Leopard and the migratory Tibetan Antelope (Chiru).
• World Heritage Potential: The sanctuary is sometimes mentioned as a potential "transboundary counterpart" to the Central Karakoram National Park in Pakistan, with proposals to potentially link it to the Siachen Peace Park and elevate its status to a World Heritage Site.
• Challenges: The sanctuary faces challenges from harsh climatic conditions, limited accessibility for research, and, historically, the threat of poaching, particularly for the Tibetan Antelope. Recent discussions have also involved the impact of road construction projects near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the sanctuary's ecology.

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