Ladakh, a region in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, comes under the Biogeographic zone 1A - the Trans Himalayas. This zone covers more than 92000 Sq. Km. of geographical area of Jammu & Kashmir. Being a high altitude cold desert region, it experiences harsh climatic conditions which include extreme low temperature and very low rainfall leading to low environmental productivity. This cold desert region appears barren with low number of wild animals per unit surface area. Nevertheless, more than 1000 species of plants, predominantly herbs and shrubs, have been reported from this region. Thirty five species of mammals have been reported from this region so far. Two species of mammals viz., Himalayan weasel and Musk deer have not been reported after 1960 (Otto Pfi ster, 2004) and one species of mammal i.e. Tibetan Sand Fox is rarely seen or recorded; where as a new rocord of Himalayan Goral might be added to the earlier list of 34 species, as photo record this species in Ladakh is recorded as recently as 2017.
