On June 26, officials from the Wildlife Department of Ladakh imposed a ₹50,000 fine on each of the four vehicles that violated the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, according to reports.
The owners of the offending vehicles, hailing from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, were penalized after their vehicles were discovered illegally driving into Pangong Lake and other designated wildlife zones in Changthang and Nubra in recent days.
An official spokesperson stated that the penalties underscore the administration’s dedication to safeguarding Ladakh’s delicate ecosystem and its endangered wildlife.
Officials noted that incidents of illegal off-roading and reckless driving have surged in Ladakh recently, characterizing the move as the first instance of such a stringent penalty being enforced in this ecologically vulnerable Union Territory.
All four vehicles were seized following an investigation and were only returned after the fines were settled, as reported by officials.
The infractions were documented at four sites within the Leh Wildlife Division—Merak and Lukung along the delicate shores of Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle, and Sumur in Nubra Valley.
As per officials, on June 23, wildlife staff spotted a Mahindra Thar (PB 11DD 7773) off-roading near Merak into Pangong Lake’s waters. They revealed that the driver intentionally submerged the vehicle for stunt purposes, thus damaging crucial wildlife habitats and polluting the lake. The driver was deemed prima facie guilty under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, leading to the vehicle’s seizure.
On June 21, authorities intervened 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, that same day and was subsequently impounded.
On June 20, another social media clip highlighted a Mahindra Thar (PB-65BL-8698) navigating through a stream in the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary, thereby damaging the habitat and ecological integrity of the protected area. Following diligent intelligence gathering with local police, the vehicle was intercepted and seized at Kharu on June 21.
Further, a viral video circulating on June 17 depicted a Toyota Fortuner (HP 37H 7888) driving off-road near Nurboo La within the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, with reports indicating the driver was chasing a Tibetan Gazelle. Wildlife officials conducted an overnight search in collaboration with the police and located the vehicle outside a homestay in Hanle on the morning of June 18.
The four offenders paid the ₹50,000 fine each prior to the release of their vehicles.
As stated by an official spokesperson, these actions followed a series of violations observed by wildlife officials during routine patrols and via social media monitoring, reported to the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.
Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena emphasized that while Ladakh extends a warm welcome to visitors from across the nation and globe, tourists must prioritize responsible and eco-friendly behavior. He called upon tourists, adventure enthusiasts, and vehicle owners to refrain from entering protected wildlife areas, asserting that such activities disrupt endangered species, damage fragile ecosystems, and compromise the sanctity of tourist destinations.
Saxena affirmed that off-road driving within or adjacent to protected areas constitutes a punishable offense under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and cautioned that strict action would be taken against all violators.
