Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary

Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary in Leh district (Ladakh), India
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Location	Leh District, Ladakh, India
Area	4000 km²

The Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (or the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary) is a high-altitude wildlife sanctuary located in the Ladakhi adjunct of the Changthang plateau in the Leh district of the Indian Union Territory of Ladakh. It is located 125 km from Leh City, the capital of Ladakh. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

It is among one of the 3 largest wildlife sanctuaries in Ladakh, others being Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary and Hemis National Park. ^[4]

Geography

Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 4000 km². (Wildlife Department Ladakh) ^{[1] [5] [2] [3]}

Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary lies entirely within the northeast area of India-administered Ladakh. It's boundaries, defined by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), are: ^[4]

• Western boundary: From north of Charbagh Kangri on India-Pakistan Loc, then eastward along Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road till Durbuk and Karu (on NH-3). ^[4]

• Southern boundary: run from Karu to Pang along NH-3, then eastward till Narbu Sumdo (southeast of Tso Moriri) to Ladakh-Himachal-Tibet border tri-junction; ^[4]

• Eastern boundary: from Ladakh-Himachal-Tibet border tri-junction turn northward, along India-China settled border and LAC via Chumar, Imis La, Charding Nullah to Demchok; ^[4]

• Northern boundary: then from Demchok run westward along Indus river to Dungti and then along India-China LAC till north of Charbagh Kangri. ^[4]

Ecology

It is important as one of the few places in India with a population of the Kiang or Tibetan Wild Ass, as well as the rare Black-necked Crane. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

See also

• Geography of Ladakh
• Tourism in Ladakh

References

1. "Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary in Ladakh" . Retrieved 2025-05-29.
2. Namgail, Tsewang (2024-07-12). "Ladakh | All is not well at Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-05-29.
3. "Centre's wildlife panel clears proposals to build strategic infra in eastern Ladakh". The Economic Times. 2025-01-10. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2025-05-29.
4. Boundaries of sanctuaries in Ladakh to be 'rationalised', WII, 9 Apr 2022.
5. "Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary-The Best Sanctuary in Ladakh". 2024-10-11. Retrieved 2025-05-29.