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What is the story about?
The Ladakh administration has launched what officials described as its first enforcement drive against illegal off-roading in ecologically sensitive areas, imposing a total penalty of ₹2 lakh on four vehicles found violating the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
On June 26, the Wildlife Department of Ladakh imposed a penalty of ₹50,000 each on four vehicles found violating the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, officials said.
The offending vehicle owners from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were penalised after their vehicles were found to have been driven illegally into Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife zones in Changthang and Nubra in recent days.
According to an official spokesperson, the penalty imposed on the offending drivers reaffirms the administration's commitment to protecting Ladakh's fragile ecosystem and endangered wildlife.
Officials said cases of illegal off-roading and stunts have been on the rise in Ladakh in recent times, and described the action as the first time such a strict penalty has been imposed in the ecologically fragile Union Territory.
All four vehicles were impounded after an investigation and released only after the penalties were paid, officials said.
The violations were reported at four locations under the Leh Wildlife Division—Merak and Lukung along the ecologically sensitive shores of Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle, and Sumur in Nubra Valley.
According to officials, on June 23, wildlife staff detected a Mahindra Thar (PB 11DD 7773) being driven off-road near Merak into the waters of Pangong Lake. Officials said the driver had deliberately taken the vehicle into the water for stunt purposes, causing damage to critical wildlife habitat and polluting the lake. The driver was found prima facie guilty under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, and the vehicle was later seized.
Officials said that on June 21, wildlife authorities acted after a video surfaced showing a Hyundai Creta (UP 81DD 4592) engaged in off-road driving near Lukung along Pangong Lake within the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. The vehicle was intercepted at Zingral, Changla Pass, the same day and impounded.
According to officials, on June 20, another social media video showed a Mahindra Thar (PB-65BL-8698) driving through a stream inside the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary, causing damage to the habitat and ecological integrity of the protected area. Following sustained intelligence gathering through local police, the vehicle was intercepted and impounded at Kharu on June 21.
Officials said a viral social media video circulating on June 17 showed a Toyota Fortuner (HP 37H 7888) being driven off-road near Nurboo La inside the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, with the driver reportedly chasing a Tibetan Gazelle. Wildlife officials launched an overnight search in coordination with the police and traced the vehicle outside a homestay in Hanle on the morning of June 18.
Officials said the four offenders paid the ₹50,000 penalty each before their vehicles were released.
According to an official spokesperson, the action followed a series of violations detected by wildlife officials during routine patrolling and through social media surveillance, and reported to the Lieutenant Governor's Secretariat.
Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena said that while Ladakh warmly welcomes visitors from across the country and the world, tourists must be responsible and environmentally conscious. He urged tourists, adventure enthusiasts and vehicle owners not to venture into protected wildlife habitats, saying such activities disturb endangered species, damage fragile ecosystems and harm the sanctity of tourist places.
Saxena said off-road driving within or in the vicinity of protected areas is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and warned that stringent action would continue against all such violators.
On June 26, the Wildlife Department of Ladakh imposed a penalty of ₹50,000 each on four vehicles found violating the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, officials said.
The offending vehicle owners from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were penalised after their vehicles were found to have been driven illegally into Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife zones in Changthang and Nubra in recent days.
According to an official spokesperson, the penalty imposed on the offending drivers reaffirms the administration's commitment to protecting Ladakh's fragile ecosystem and endangered wildlife.
Officials said cases of illegal off-roading and stunts have been on the rise in Ladakh in recent times, and described the action as the first time such a strict penalty has been imposed in the ecologically fragile Union Territory.
All four vehicles were impounded after an investigation and released only after the penalties were paid, officials said.
The violations were reported at four locations under the Leh Wildlife Division—Merak and Lukung along the ecologically sensitive shores of Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle, and Sumur in Nubra Valley.
According to officials, on June 23, wildlife staff detected a Mahindra Thar (PB 11DD 7773) being driven off-road near Merak into the waters of Pangong Lake. Officials said the driver had deliberately taken the vehicle into the water for stunt purposes, causing damage to critical wildlife habitat and polluting the lake. The driver was found prima facie guilty under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, and the vehicle was later seized.
Officials said that on June 21, wildlife authorities acted after a video surfaced showing a Hyundai Creta (UP 81DD 4592) engaged in off-road driving near Lukung along Pangong Lake within the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. The vehicle was intercepted at Zingral, Changla Pass, the same day and impounded.
According to officials, on June 20, another social media video showed a Mahindra Thar (PB-65BL-8698) driving through a stream inside the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary, causing damage to the habitat and ecological integrity of the protected area. Following sustained intelligence gathering through local police, the vehicle was intercepted and impounded at Kharu on June 21.
Officials said a viral social media video circulating on June 17 showed a Toyota Fortuner (HP 37H 7888) being driven off-road near Nurboo La inside the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, with the driver reportedly chasing a Tibetan Gazelle. Wildlife officials launched an overnight search in coordination with the police and traced the vehicle outside a homestay in Hanle on the morning of June 18.
Officials said the four offenders paid the ₹50,000 penalty each before their vehicles were released.
According to an official spokesperson, the action followed a series of violations detected by wildlife officials during routine patrolling and through social media surveillance, and reported to the Lieutenant Governor's Secretariat.
Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena said that while Ladakh warmly welcomes visitors from across the country and the world, tourists must be responsible and environmentally conscious. He urged tourists, adventure enthusiasts and vehicle owners not to venture into protected wildlife habitats, saying such activities disturb endangered species, damage fragile ecosystems and harm the sanctity of tourist places.
Saxena said off-road driving within or in the vicinity of protected areas is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and warned that stringent action would continue against all such violators.
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