Tashi R Ghale from Manang – heart of the famed Annapurna region – north of Mt. Annapurna. He pursued his studies in the hill station Darjeeling, India has made his livelihood as a hotel owner and talented photographer, known for the conservation of snow leopards in Nepal, particularly in the Annapurna region. His work combines photography, field biology, and community engagement to promote awareness and protection of these elusive predators.
Ghale serves as a citizen scientist for the Snow Leopard Conservancy and Third Pole Conservancy, where he deploys and maintains camera traps to monitor snow leopard populations and their habitats. His efforts have led to significant discoveries, including the first documented camera-trap evidence of Pallas’s cats in Manang, a species previously thought to be extinct in the region.
He has been commented by a US based group for snow leopard conservation as the first Nepali photographer to capture the pictures of elusive snow leopard in its remotest habitat.
His work of art has been on calendars, postal cards, books, travel magazines, trekking maps, brochures. He has played a huge role in the Destination Manang 2004 and 2007 campaign.
Over his two-decade career, Ghale has been recognized with several awards for his contributions to wildlife conservation in the Nepal Himalayas. In 2018, he was honored with the Disney Conservation Hero Award by the Disney Conservation Fund for his groundbreaking work in snow leopard research and conservation, employing non-invasive monitoring techniques like camera trapping.
Earlier, in 2016, WWF Nepal awarded him the prestigious Abraham Conservation Award for his extraordinary efforts in documenting and preserving snow leopards and other high-altitude wildlife. That same year, his trail camera videos, capturing unique animal behavior, earned him a top-five position in the Trail Camera Video Contest organized by Trailcampro.com.
Tashi’s passion for wildlife was further recognized in 2015 when he received the Best Talk Award (Second Place) at the Student Conference on Conservation Science in Beijing for his insightful presentation on the diversity and distribution of carnivores in the Nyesyang Valley.
His talent for visual storytelling was celebrated earlier in his career with a second prize in the 2007 Press Photo Contest from the National Forum of Photo Journalists-Nepal and third place at the 2006 Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, organized by the Himal Association and WWF-Nepal.
Beyond awards, Tashi has contributed significantly to scientific knowledge through his publications. He co-authored a groundbreaking paper on the first photographic evidence of snow leopards outside Nepal’s protected areas and wrote extensively on snow leopard ecology in The Himalayas: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture. His work includes documenting a new altitudinal record of the Asian Woollyneck in South Asia and contributing to the conservation of Pallas’s Cat in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Through his tireless efforts, Tashi has become a leading voice for wildlife conservation, blending science and storytelling to inspire action and awareness.
Ghale’s approach to conservation emphasizes education and community involvement. He actively engages local students by teaching them about wildlife conservation through hands-on experiences, such as installing camera traps. This initiative aims to inspire future generations to care for their environment.
Ghale strategically places camera traps in areas frequented by snow leopards, using knowledge of their behavior and habitat preferences to maximize success. He also conducts educational programs that include essay and painting competitions for students, sharing a deeper understanding of wildlife conservation within the community.
Working in the high-altitude environments of the Himalayas presents significant challenges. The rugged terrain and extreme weather conditions complicate fieldwork, requiring substantial physical endurance and commitment.Despite these obstacles, Ghale remains dedicated to his mission of protecting snow leopards and maintaining ecological balance in their habitats.
Tashi R. Ghale exemplifies how a combination of passion for photography, scientific inquiry, and community involvement can lead to meaningful conservation efforts. His work not only contributes to the protection of snow leopards but also helps cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship among local youth. Through his endeavors, he aims to ensure that future generations can appreciate and coexist with these magnificent creatures.
I am keen and proud to say that he is hero of our manang and protecting snow leopard
Hats off to you brother, Your dedication and hard work will help future generations to understands the importance of saving this beautiful & almost extinct snow leopard & Pallas Cat in Nepal🙏