Our second Himalayan expedition consisted of two stays in Himachal Pradesh with one short excursion to Nepal for a snakebite conference and to visit habitats of the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah).
Our first stay in Himachal Pradesh consisted of long drives across the state to deliver training to the various forest departments as part of a grant awarded to Dr Anita Malhotra & Dr Stuart Graham. The training was also part of a social science study being carried out by Dr Anatoli Togridou & Dr Stuart Graham. Training consisted of theory based lectures to deliver information about snake biology and the snakebite scenario in India. This was followed by practical sessions in which members of the forest department were trained in the safe handling of venomous snakes during removals.
Upon our return from Nepal for the second part of our visit to Himachal Pradesh we travelled via bus from New Delhi. A long but scenic drive once you escape the bustling city that Delhi is. For this part of the expedition, a number of volunteers would join us in surveying new habitats, training forest departments and determining species diversity.
We scaled new heights, literally! during this trip. Travelling to the home of the snow leopard, at an altitude over 5,000m asl presented us with huge glaciers and quite terrifying mountain roads. It is quite surreal that the Himalayan pit-viper (Gloydius himalayanus) calls this area home.
Overall, this was a difficult expedition. we visited later in the year which presented us with heavy rains and landslides but surveying new areas of The Great Himalayan National Park provided us with brief observations of leopards, a bear, Himalayan porcupines and the elusive MacClelland's coral snake (Sinomicrurus macclellandi), which confirmed a seventh species of venomous snake from this state.
Unfortunately the Covid-19 pandemic has prevented us from returning in 2020 but we will be returning to Himachal Pradesh to further our surveys to new locations, soon! Get in touch if you would like further information about how to join us.
