Disappearance of Himalayan Sheep Farming

Rojina Rai

Nepal’s traditional migratory Himalayan sheep farming, a centuries-old livelihood in the high hills and Himalayan regions including Mustang, is under increasing pressure.

Shrinking grazing areas, climate change, declining interest among young people, and limited government support are putting the future of this traditional occupation at risk.

From the foothills of the Himalayas to the high alpine pastures (Bukee), the sound of sheep bells is slowly fading.

Once a defining part of Nepal’s Himalayan indigenous identity, sheep herding is now under pressure from climate change and shrinking pasturelands…raising fears that this traditional way of life may soon disappear.

Ram Bahadur Thami from Mugu is among many herders facing similar struggles in high-altitude regions.

After spending four decades in Mustang as a herder, he says Nepal’s sheep-rearing culture is gradually disappearing.

With young people leaving for cities and foreign countries in search of education and jobs, those who remain increasingly view this ancestral occupation as compulsion rather than choice.
Uncertain income, and constant wildlife threats have made herding even more difficult, with limited state support.

Traditional grazing lands…kharka and Bukee…alpine meadows…are shrinking due to forest restrictions and expanding infrastructure like roads and hydropower projects.

Seasonal migration of flocks to Tibet, once a common practice, has also declined due to tighter border controls, adding further challenges for border herders.

Climate change has intensified the risks in these high-altitude areas, bringing more avalanches, storms, and extreme cold.

Today, only a few herders remain in the Himalayan region.

They spend months in temporary shelters, facing food shortages, harsh conditions, and isolation, with limited communication access.

Market challenges also persist, as middlemen continue to dominate the trade of meat and livestock.

At the same time, demand for traditional wool blankets like Radi, Pakhi, and Bakhu…traditional attire…is steadily declining—further discouraging the next generation from continuing this way of life.