A total of 40 Chinese yaks that had strayed inside Ladakh near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have been returned to China. A warning was also issued to the owners of these Yaks to not enter Indian territory.
This incident highlights China’s ongoing strategy of encroaching on land along the LAC using animals. The yaks had strayed into the Demchok area of eastern Ladakh in search of fodder.
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The incident was shared on social media by Chushul Councilor Konchok Tenzin on August 19, who noted that when Indian animals stray into Chinese territory, they are not returned. However, the Indian Army informed the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) about the incident as per established protocol, and the yaks were returned the next day.
Disputes over grazing lands in Ladakh have been common, as these areas are crucial for the local tribal communities who have grazed their animals there for centuries.
China has allegedly used local herders, disguised as soldiers and spies, to carry out activities in Indian territories. Whenever disputes over grazing lands arise, China claims that their animals have been grazing there for centuries, reinforcing their territorial claims.
The LAC area has witnessed an increase in such incidents, particularly since the 2020 stand-off between India and China.
The Indian Army had to close some grazing lands near the LAC, directing villagers to alternate locations. The number of livestock grazing in these areas decreased from 56,000 in 2019 to 28,000 in 2021 due to the disputes. However, in recent years, the number has risen back to around 58,000. There are about ten major grazing areas in Ladakh, including Chushul, Tara, Nyoma, Fukche, and Demchok, where Indian herders continue to graze their animals.
Despite occasional face-offs and standoffs, China continues to send its herders and livestock into Indian territories to avoid direct confrontations.
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