Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve

News: The Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve was recently notified by the Himachal Pradesh government. Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve.

About Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve

• It is located in the remote and high-altitude region of Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh.
• It was officially notified on May 7, 2025, under Section 36A(1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, making it a legally recognized conservation area.
• It has become India’s largest conservation reserve with an area of 1,585 square kilometres.
• It is also the fifth conservation reserve in Himachal Pradesh, joining the ranks of Darlaghat, Naina Devi, Potter Hill, and Shilli.
• The reserve is bordered by the Union Territory of Ladakh to the north, the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary (extending up to Malang Nala and Lungar Lungpa) to the east, Kabjima Nala to the south, and the Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary to the west.
• The area is ecologically significant as it lies in the catchment of the Charap Nala and serves as a vital wildlife corridor between the Kibber and Chandratal sanctuaries.
• Management will be overseen by a Conservation Reserve Management Committee, comprising representatives from local Panchayats as well.
• Fauna: The Tsarap Chu region hosts a high population of snow leopards, a key indicator species often referred to as the “ghost of the mountains.”
  • Other important wildlife species found in the reserve include the Tibetan wolf, bharal (blue sheep), Himalayan ibex, kiang (wild ass), and Tibetan argali.
  • Rare and ecologically important bird species such as the Rose Finch, Tibetan Raven, and Yellow-billed Chough also inhabit the region, enhancing its biodiversity value.