Wildlife · Limi Valley
Blue sheep and kiang on the upper pastures
Spend a day scanning the high pastures above Til and Jang with a local herder or guide, looking for blue sheep, kiang, Tibetan gazelle and, with great luck, wolf or snow leopard in one of Nepal's least disturbed corners.
Above Limi's villages the land rises into wide pastures and cliffs, grazed by yaks and sheep in summer and home to wild animals rarely seen elsewhere in Nepal. Blue sheep are the most common, often in herds on rocky slopes. Kiang, the Tibetan wild ass, and Tibetan gazelle have been recorded nearer the border.
Predators are here too: Himalayan wolf, Tibetan fox, Himalayan brown bear and snow leopard have all been reported in Limi. In 2014 a wild yak, a species thought lost from Nepal for half a century, was seen in the valley. Upper Humla is also rich in birds, including large raptors that ride the thermals above the cliffs.
Go with a local herder or guide who knows where animals graze this season, start at first light and bring binoculars or a spotting scope. Keep a respectful distance from herding camps and their mastiff dogs, which guard flocks fiercely.
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Questions
Can I see snow leopards in Limi?
Snow leopards have been reported in Limi, but sightings by trekkers are rare and a matter of luck. Blue sheep, their main prey, are seen often. Scan cliffs at dawn and dusk with binoculars and a local guide for the best chance.
Are there wild yaks in Limi?
A wild yak was reported in the Limi valley in 2014, the first record in Nepal for about five decades. Wild yaks remain extremely rare here. The yaks you see grazing near villages are domestic animals.
Are herding dogs dangerous in Limi?
They can be. Tibetan mastiffs guard flocks and camps and may attack strangers. Never approach a herding camp without your guide, carry a trekking pole, and wait for the owner to secure the dogs before going near.
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