Life in the Deserts — Social Science STD 7 — Question

Flora and Fauna found in Ladakh:Due to dryness, vegetation is sparse.

• There are very sparse patches of grasses and shrubs for animals to graze.
• Groves of willows and poplars are found in the valleys.
• During summers, fruit trees like apples, apricots and walnuts bloom.

Fauna of Ladakh includes birds and animals.

• Several species of birds are sighted in Ladakh.
• Robins, Redstarts, Tibetan Snowcock, Raven and Hoopoe are common.
• Some of these are migratory birds.
• The animals of Ladakh are the wild goats, wild sheep, yak and special kinds of dogs.
• The animals provide milk, meat and hides.
• The yak’s milk is used to make cheese and butter.
• The hair of the sheep and goat is used to make woollen clothes.

The Chiru or the Tibetan antelope is an endangered species. It is hunted for its wool known as shahtoosh.

• The wool is light in weight and extremely warm.