Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are disrupting the traditional seasonal migrations of Himalayan pastoral communities, increasing risks to livestock and threatening livelihoods that have sustained generations of shepherds.
In October 2025, Joginder Chand a 50 year old shepherd from Udyol village in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district experienced the dangers of increasingly unpredictable mountain conditions. While returning from high altitude grazing grounds with a herd of around 600 sheep and goats, Chand and four other shepherds were crossing the Jarol Jot pass when an avalanche swept away more than 100 animals.
The five shepherds took shelter in a mountain cave where they remained stranded for seven days, surviving on a small supply of roasted corn. For Chand and his community the loss of livestock represented a devastating economic setback as animals are central to their livelihoods.
Traditional migration patterns under pressure
Chand belongs to the Gaddi community whose pastoral traditions are concentrated mainly in the Chamba and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh. Gaddi shepherds move between different elevations throughout the year, following seasonal changes in temperature, snowfall and the availability of fresh grazing land.
Their traditional migration cycle generally begins in April and May, when melting snow allows them to move uphill. From June to August, they travel through high mountain ranges, including the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal, reaching alpine meadows in areas such as Lahaul, Spiti and Pangi. They usually return to lower altitude grazing grounds in September and October, before winter snowfall makes high mountain routes dangerous.
However, changing weather conditions are making these journeys increasingly difficult to predict. Sudden snowfall, avalanches and shifting seasonal patterns can disrupt established routes, exposing shepherds and their animals to greater risks.
Growing avalanche concerns
The incident at Jarol Jot reflects wider concerns about avalanche hazards in the western Himalayas.
A study published in Nature in 2025, using avalanche data from 1970 to 2016 found that approximately 8 per cent of the western Himalayan region had become highly susceptible to avalanches.
Another incident was reported on September 27, 2026, when around 2,000 sheep and goats were buried beneath snow near the Rupin Pass in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district.
Such events highlight the vulnerability of pastoral communities that depend on moving livestock through high altitude landscapes. When animals are lost, families can face substantial financial hardship, while dangerous conditions may also leave shepherds stranded far from settlements and essential supplies.
Protecting livelihoods in a changing climate
Himalayan pastoralism depends on a delicate relationship between seasonal weather, mountain ecosystems and access to grazing land. Climate change is adding pressure to this relationship by altering environmental conditions and making traditional migration decisions more challenging.
For communities such as the Gaddis, the risks extend beyond individual disasters. Unpredictable weather and hazardous mountain routes can threaten livestock survival, disrupt migration schedules and undermine the continuity of traditional pastoral practices.
Addressing these challenges will require better access to weather forecasts, timely avalanche warnings, safer migration planning and support for families affected by livestock losses.
As climate pressures intensify across the Himalayas, protecting pastoral livelihoods will be important not only for the economic security of shepherding families but also for preserving traditional knowledge and the cultural practices associated with seasonal livestock migration.