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CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY 
Living with the snow leopard, not apart from it.

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At Shan at Uley, conservation is not a separate project. It is part of our home, our family story, and the way we live with the mountains of Uley.

For us, protecting wildlife also means supporting the people who share this landscape with snow leopards, wolves, ibex, urial, livestock, fields, and village life.

Conservation Begins With Coexistence

 

From Conflict to Respect

 

Our family has always depended on livestock, including sheep, cattle, and yaks. We have also lived with frequent losses to snow leopards, wolves, and more recently Khipshang, the wolf-dog hybrids found in this region. For years, the conflict felt endless.

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With time, we began to understand the role these predators play in keeping the mountains healthy. Tourism gave us a practical way to support local livelihoods while giving people a reason to protect wildlife.

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We’re still learning and finding small solutions that make a real difference. Our hope is for Uley to grow without losing its wildlife or its way of life, so people and predators can continue to share this landscape. 

Compensation Programme

 

Supporting Herders. Reducing Retaliation.

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In 2013, Mr. Tsewang Norboo, together with his friend Mr. Bobby from Hyderabad, started a compensation programme to support local herders who lose livestock to snow leopards and wolves.

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The purpose of the programme is to reduce retaliation against wild predators by helping families recover from livestock loss.

 

Mr. Bobby funds the programme, while Mr. Norboo helps ensure that compensation is distributed fairly to the rightful owners. This simple but meaningful initiative has helped build trust, reduce conflict, and encourage a more peaceful relationship between wildlife and the local community.

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It is one of the most important examples of conservation at Shan at Uley — practical, local, and rooted in real village life.

Youth Training Programme

 

Training the Next Generation of Local Spotters & Guides

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At Shan at Uley, we are committed to creating opportunities for the young people of Ladakh through wildlife and eco-tourism training.

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Led by Tsewang Norboo, the Youth Training Programme helps young Ladakhis understand the region’s wildlife, fragile mountain ecosystem, and the importance of snow leopard conservation.

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Through hands-on learning, participants are introduced to wildlife spotting, reading the landscape, understanding animal behaviour, responsible guiding, guest handling, and the role of eco-tourism in conservation.

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The goal is to help local youth build skills, earn a meaningful income, support their families, and become future guides, spotters, and conservation ambassadors for Ladakh.

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This programme is not only about employment. It is about giving young people a reason to value and protect the wildlife of their own homeland.

Partnerships & Support

 

Working With People Who Believe in Conservation

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Conservation is stronger when people come together.

 

One of our supporters is Blooms & Leopards, a wildlife and sustainability-focused brand creating handcrafted tea blends and eco-friendly products. Their work is built around harmony with nature, and every purchase supports the conservation of snow leopards, tigers, and other wild cats.

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Blooms & Leopards also co-sponsored our youth training programme in December 2025, helping support the next generation of wildlife guides and eco-tourism professionals in Ladakh.

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Such partnerships allow us to connect local conservation work in Uley with a wider community of people who care about wildlife, sustainability, and responsible travel.

Responsible Wildlife Tourism

 

Tourism That Gives Back to the Landscape

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Wildlife tourism, when done carefully, can become a powerful tool for conservation.

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At Shan at Uley, our snow leopard expeditions and summer experiences create livelihood opportunities for local spotters, guides, drivers, cooks, lodge staff, village families, and field teams.

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Guests are guided to observe wildlife with patience and respect. We maintain distance, avoid disturbance, follow the guidance of spotters, and allow animals to move naturally through their habitat.

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Every guest who visits Uley becomes part of this larger conservation story — supporting local livelihoods, learning about coexistence, and helping create value around protecting the snow leopard and its habitat.

A Future Built on Coexistence

 

The snow leopard survives where mountains are healthy, prey is wild, and people believe it is worth protecting.

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At Shan at Uley, conservation is not only about protecting an animal. It is about protecting a way of life, supporting local families, training young people, reducing conflict, and keeping the mountains of Uley wild for the future.

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