The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra brings thousands of pilgrims into the Kashmir Himalaya, a fragile ecosystem inhabited by long-tailed marmots. Encounters with these animals, while potentially deepening a pilgrim’s spiritual experience, can lead to harmful interactions.
Feeding and handling marmots alters their natural behavior, making them dependent on humans and susceptible to harm. While photographing wildlife from a distance is encouraged, offering food or touching the animals is urged against. This practice can lead to marmots associating people with food and approaching them in expectation, potentially affecting their health and natural foraging habits.
Conservationists emphasize that the goal is to foster appreciation for wildlife without altering its wild nature. Visitors are encouraged to observe marmots from a distance and allow them to remain truly wild, ensuring their comfort in their natural habitat.
Source: Down To Earth