Amid the ongoing tourist season, the Ladakh Administration has, for the first time, imposed hefty penalties on tourists found performing SUV stunts in Pangong Lake and other protected areas of the Union Territory.
The number of visitors to Ladakh has risen as a heatwave grips the plains of the country. Many tourists from different parts of India are travelling in SUVs to the high-altitude region known for its breathtaking landscapes and mountain passes.
The Wildlife Department has imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 each on four vehicles found violating provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Owners from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were penalised for illegally driving their vehicles into Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife zones in Changthang and Nubra over the past few days.
“The total penalty imposed amounts to Rs 2 lakh. The action against the offending drivers reaffirms the administration’s commitment to protecting Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem and endangered wildlife,” an official said.
Although incidents of illegal off-roading and vehicle stunts have increased in recent years, this is the first time such stringent penalties have been imposed. All four vehicles were impounded after detailed investigations and released only after the penalties were paid.
The action follows a series of violations detected by wildlife officials during routine patrolling and social media surveillance, with the cases subsequently reported to the L-G Secretariat. The violations occurred 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.
In a statement, L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena reiterated that while Ladakh warmly welcomes visitors from across the country and abroad, tourists must act responsibly and remain environmentally conscious. He urged tourists, adventure enthusiasts and vehicle owners not to venture into protected wildlife habitats, as such activities disturb endangered species, damage fragile ecosystems and diminish the sanctity of tourist destinations.
In the latest incident on June 23, wildlife staff detected a Mahindra Thar (PB 11DD 7773) being driven into the waters of Pangong Lake for stunt purposes, damaging critical wildlife habitat and polluting the lake. The driver was found prima facie guilty under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the vehicle was seized.
Similarly, on June 21, wildlife authorities acted after a video surfaced showing a Hyundai Creta (UP 81DD 4592) being driven off-road near Lukung in the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. The vehicle was intercepted at Zingral on Changla Pass the same day and impounded.
On June 20, another video showed a Mahindra Thar (PB 65BL 8698) driving through a stream inside the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary, damaging the fragile habitat. Following sustained intelligence gathering with the help of local police, the vehicle was intercepted at Kharu on June 21.
Similarly, on June 17, a viral video 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 with police assistance and traced the vehicle outside a homestay in Hanle on the morning of June 18.
The four offenders later paid the Rs 50,000 penalty each and secured the release of their vehicles.
