Flora is a Latin
word which means goddess of flowers and Fauna was sister of Faunus, a good
spirit of the forest and plains. Flora and Fauna refer to plant and wild life
respectively. The indigenous plant and wildlife of a geographical region is
often referred to as that region’s flora and fauna.
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| Flora and Fauna of Ladakh |
Flora and Fauna
of Ladakh were first studied by Ferdinand Stoliczka, an Austrian
Palaeontologist, who carried out a massive expedition in the region in the
1870s. Flora and Fauna of Ladakh are in keeping with the mountainous nature of
region. The Flora and Fauna of Ladakh have much common with those of Central
Asia generally, and especially those of the Tibetan plateau.
There are hardly
any trees and vegetation in sight in much of Ladakh, except for the few narrow
valleys, where wild roses, willow groves and some herbs could be seen. However,
above that, due to rapid decrease in tempreture, vegetation becomes stunted and
sparse. An exception to this is birds. Ladakh has a great diversity of birds, a
total of 225 species have been recorded, many of them that migrate from the
warmer parts of India to spend summer in Ladakh. Among Ladakh’s most important Fauna are bactarian camel, brown
bear, Ladakh urial, lynx, red fox, syberian ibex, snow leopard, Tibetan antelope, Tibetan
argali, Tibetan gazelle, Tibetan wild ass, Tibetan wolf, wild dog, and wild
yak.
Many species of
finches, robins, red starts and the hoopoe are common in summer. The brown headed gull and resident water
birds include the brahminy duck [ruddy Sheldrake] bar headed goose can be seen
in summer on the river Indus and some lakes of Changthang. The black headed
crane, a rare species is also found in Ladakh. Other bird species are raven,
red billed chough, Tibetan snow cock and chukar can be seen in summer in
Ladakh.
The lammergeyer
and golden eagle, common raptors are found here.
Did you know:- Only 200 Leopards are surviving in Ladakh. But you can
see their foot print in winter only.
