JAMMU, Mar 28: With the timely intervention of the Central Government, the population of the Yak-a bovine native to Himalayas-and different varieties of the Goat, which was decreasing gradually in the Union Territory of Ladakh, has shown upward trends yet again.As per the 19th livestock census conducted in the year 2012 by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the total population of the Yak was 33,754 in 2012, which declined to 20, 743 in 2019 (year when 20th livestock census was conducted) but thanks to the Central Government’s Ladakh specific infrastructure development programmes like the Special Development Package (SDP) and Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) that within three years, the population of Yak reached 23,733 again in 2022-23 as per the fresh surveys conducted by the regional administration.Similarly, the population of goat was 3, 08,868 in the year 2012, which declined to 2, 40,106 in the year 2019 but in three years it reached 2,53,740 again in 2022-23.However, the population of cattle and sheep didn’t increase in the region in the specific period but it has also showed upward trends according to the local leaders and officers.
