There are about 360 Tibetan Antelope (Pantolops hodgsonii), commonly known as Cheeru in the country. The animal is mainly confined to the Tibetan plateau. During summer season, a small population of Tibetan Antelope migrate to parts of eastern Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir viz. Changchenmo valley in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary in Leh District of Ladakh. The number of Tibetan Antelope occurring in the DBO and Changchenmo area is estimated to be around 250-300 and 50-60 respectively.
The Jammu & Kashmir Government has taken several steps for the protection of the Tibetan Antelope. Two areas forming the prime habitats of Tibetan Anthelope have been declared as Wildlife Sanctuaries namely Karakorma Wildlife Sanctuary, (including BDO area) and the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, (including Changchenmo area). Further, Tibetan Antelope has been included in the Schedule I of the Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act, 1978 thereby according it the highest degree of protection. The central government also provided financial and technical assistance to Jammu & Kashmir Government under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries’ for the conservation and management of Protected Areas including the habitats of Tibetan Antelope.
Endangered Tibbetan Cheeru
