A Ladakhi podcast spurs conversations about wildlife and conservation

An initiative in Ladakh aims to raise awareness about wildlife in the region and encourage conservation efforts through a podcast delivered in the local Ladakhi language.

A year ago, Morup Namgail, a photographer, and Padma Rigzin, a researcher, launched Ladakh Si Podcast, which literally translates to “Podcast from Ladakh” in Ladakhi. This self-funded podcast weaves together narratives of ecology, culture, and discusses the impacts of climate change on the region’s wildlife.

Morup, 29, hails from Ulley, a village in Ladakh located at roughly 4,200 metres, with only six families. Padma, 32, is from Hemis Shukpachan, a village, around 14 kilometres from Ulley. Both Morup and Padma came together to collaborate on this podcast owing to the shared interest they had for the snow leopard, among other wildlife.

While Morup is well known in Ladakh for documenting the snow leopards, Padma is currently studying human-snow leopard relationships for his Ph.D. degree at Shiv Nadar University in Greater Noida.

As a native Ladakhi, Morup already had an understanding of the region and its environmental issues. It was, however, only after he delved into photography that he began to uncover the complexities in wildlife conservation. This led him to think how he, as a local, can contribute to conservation efforts.  “In Ladakh, there hasn’t been much focus on wildlife conservation because the predominant emphasis has traditionally been on development,” he says.

Through his wildlife photography, particularly capturing the elusive snow leopard, Morup believes he has brought attention to Ladakh’s unique wildlife and the importance of conservation. “When these images are seen by people in social media and in exhibitions it creates awareness,” he adds.

Speaking the language of the region, and the youth

For this wildlife enthusiast duo, the decision to host the podcast in the Ladakhi language was a conscious one. “The essence of stories often gets lost in translation. Our intention was to use a language that would resonate deeply with the listeners. We felt that would make a stronger impact,” Morup shares with Mongabay-India.

“Podcast as a medium is more accessible to the younger generation. We therefore deliberately kept the tone of the podcast rustic; we try to bring in humour,” Padma adds.

“The younger generation received their education in schools outside of Ladakh and their knowledge about Ladakh’s wildlife is limited. While they may learn about lions and tigers from NCERT books, there’s a notable absence of information about indigenous species like the ibex, Ladakh urial, antelopes, and snow leopards,” he says.

Speaking about the use of native language in media, such as this podcast, Priyankoo Sarmah, Professor of Linguistics, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Guwahati, says, “First, the information provided in the regional languages increases the reach, which makes the intended information more lucid and accessible to the masses. Second, the information provided in the speakers’ native languages is trusted more than information provided in other/ non-native languages. To make people understand the basics of the issues such as climate change and conservation, there cannot be a better vehicle than the native languages to impart the information to the people.”

He adds, “With the improved reach of internet facilities, podcasts in regional languages will definitely increase. But what I am more excited about is the plethora of vital, accessible information a community gets in their own languages which will generate awareness in many areas.”

“People often adopt a reductionist approach, viewing issues in isolation without making connections. Unlike traditional media, such as radio, that only scratch the surface, Ladakh Si Podcast has tried to provide detailed insights, and a multidisciplinary and holistic approach, which is necessary for understanding complex issues. This approach will surely help young people in Ladakh understand conservation and ecological topics better,” Tsewang Namgail, Director of Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust, Leh, who was a guest in one of the episodes of Ladakhi Si…, tells Mongabay-India.

Read more: [Explainer] What is the Sixth Schedule? Why is Ladakh demanding to be brought under it?

Starting a conversation

Speaking about the importance of raising awareness about wildlife and climate change in Ladakh, Padma says there is a need for dialogue between the older and the younger generations to address the region’s unique challenges.  “Our role, as I see it, is to contribute more to that public sphere. Our aim is not to educate people but to raise new questions, new critique, criticism, new ways to look at our homeland,” he explains.

Morup agrees and presses upon how crucial it is for the local community to be familiar with environmental issues in their region, because “conservation efforts must begin from grassroots levels, rather than being enforced from higher authorities, as has often been the case in the past.”

In recent times, Ladakh has seen a tourism boom due to snow leopards. Ulley had become famous for snow leopard tourism and people from Padma’s village were employed in working for the snow leopard tourism establishment in Ulley. The boom in snow leopard tourism and community led initiatives have now deterred “revenge killings” of snow leopards, and act as a key motivator for local communities to actively participate in wildlife conservation.

Earlier the locals would want to kill the snow leopards for “revenge” as they would prey on their cattle and poultry. Same goes for the case of wolves. A thriving population of wolves in Padma’s village and nearby areas is causing the predation of domestic animals.

While tourism-dependent families may have a more favourable view of wolves and snow leopards, as they draw in tourists, the majority in and around the village harbour negative attitudes towards these animals.

The bureaucratic process deters people from applying for compensation for their losses, and “this lack of support is a concern, especially for families who are not relying on tourism for their livelihoods,” Padma says.

Ladakh also faces challenges from free-ranging dogs, which prey on domesticated animals and threaten wildlife due to an abundance of waste from hotels, eateries, and military camps. Additionally, infrastructure development is causing habitat destruction and fragmentation, impacting the survival of the Ladakh urial, a native wild sheep.

Discussing conservation issues and climate change  

Some of the pressing conservation issues were discussed on the podcast with Tsewang Namgail. Namgail, who is also the first Ladakhi to hold a Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology, addressed the conflicts between humans and wildlife in Ladakh, emphasising the importance of recognising and coexisting with other species. In another episode, Namgail also traces Ladakh’s natural history from 60 million years ago to the present day.

Konchok Dorjey, a botanist, and assistant professor at Degree College, Leh, shared his expertise on Ladakh’s flora, their adaptations to the challenging climate, and the significance of preserving medicinal plants to maintain ecological balance. In another episode, Niaz Khan, a researcher, shed light on the changing behaviours of the Himalayan Brown Bears in Ladakh, examining their interactions with human habitats and natural ecosystems in the Kargil district. Khan is pursuing his Ph.D. at Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

There are more than 400 bird species that have Ladakh as their home, summer home, or pit spot. Tsewang Namgail highlighted the complex interactions between some of these bird species and their environment. He discussed the role they play in the regional ecology and spoke about the crucial function of birds as pollinators, enabling the quick development of wild plants, and others many of whom depend on insects as food, act as gatekeepers limiting insect distribution and spread.

The first season of podcast ended in November 2023 and the second season is expected to air this July. In the upcoming season, the hosts intend to create a multilingual podcast with Ladakhi and English as its primary languages. “We also aim to discuss the Forest Rights Act, eco-tourism, the importance of waste management in Ladakh, and more,” concludes Morup, giving a teaser of the second season.

Banner image: Snow leopard. Image by Morup Namgail.