Red Fox Spotted Near Pangong Tso: IFS Officer Warns Against ‘Sympathy Conservation’

A viral video showing a red fox strolling near Pangong Tso in Ladakh has sparked admiration online — and an important conservation warning from an Indian Forest Service officer.

The clip, originally shared on Instagram by travel content creator Vibhor Srivastava, shows the fox calmly walking along a roadside as vehicles pass by, offering viewers a rare glimpse of high-altitude Himalayan wildlife. The serene visuals, set against Ladakh’s stark landscape, quickly went viral, drawing praise for the animal’s beauty and the region’s wilderness.

However, the video prompted a cautionary response from Parveen Kaswan, who flagged a behavioural red flag many viewers missed. Sharing the clip on X, Kaswan noted that the fox’s proximity to the road likely indicated habituation due to human feeding.

“Himalayan red fox, beautiful. But somebody has clearly given her food earlier. That is why she is expecting food and roaming on the road. Sympathy-based conservation is an enemy of species,” he wrote.

Wildlife experts say animals approaching roads or humans often signal altered foraging behaviour caused by feeding. Such habituation increases risks of road accidents, human–wildlife conflict, and long-term dependence on humans — ultimately harming the species.

The Himalayan red fox, a cold-desert subspecies, is commonly found across Ladakh’s high-altitude terrain. Known for its thick fur and adaptability, it plays a key ecological role by controlling rodent populations. While not currently endangered, growing tourism, roadside feeding, and habitat disturbance pose increasing threats.

Kaswan’s advisory has reignited conversations around responsible tourism in fragile ecosystems like Ladakh, urging visitors to observe wildlife from a distance and avoid feeding animals — even with good intentions.