Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea / Brahminy Duck)
- Migratory bird with flame-hued feathers
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Habitat: high-altitude wetlands and rivers
- Breeds exclusively in India in the Mudh Valley and eastern wetlands of Ladakh
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)
- World’s highest-flying migratory bird — capable of flying over Mount Everest
- Habitat: saline or brackish high-altitude waters
- Found at Tso Moriri and Tso Kar, Ladakh (both Ramsar wetlands)
Grassroots Conservation — Mudh Village
- A 12-member local group named Cha Tsogspa has voluntarily protected breeding grounds for over 20 years
- Inspired by the Dalai Lama, they actively escort vulnerable fledglings to the Indus River and protect them from stray dogs
- Model for integrating spiritual leadership with grassroots conservation
UPSC Angle
- GS3: Biodiversity conservation, community-based conservation, Ramsar sites
Sources: Down to Earth, CSE