In Arunachal Pradesh, Buddhist monks are protecting a high-altitude wetland with 20 lakes
In 2009, officials from the Tawang Monastery and WWF-India partnered to protect the region. Mar 12, 2021 · 07:30 pm Phuntsok Wangchuk, a Buddhist monk, guides and cares for pilgrims who visit the sacred wetlands that are part of the Bhagajang Wetland Complex in Arunachal Pradesh. | Kowsick Borgohain for Mongabay
Seated on a carpet on the floor of the Buddhist monastery in Itanagar, Phuntsok Wangchuk cuts a lonely figure on a Friday morning. With a rather flimsy surgical mask covering his nose and mouth, the lama or monk, appears to still be taking Covid-19 precautionary measures when most people in Arunachal Pradesh have discarded them. Using a wooden twig, he is rolling cotton wicks that will be used to light oil lamps that are used to offer prayers.
At an elevation of above 4,000 metres in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh lies the Bhagajang Wetland Complex that has around 20 high-altitude lakes.
In 2009, concerned about the impact of tourism on the environment, officials from the Tawang Monastery and WWF-India partnered to address some of these issues and conserve the environment in the wetland region.
Among the monks who are silently doing their bit in environmental protection is Phuntsok Wangchuk. Over the past 14 years he has spent around three months every year at the Bhagajang Wetland Complex to guide and care for pilgrims that visit the sacred wetlands.
Seated on a carpet on the floor of the Buddhist monastery in Itanagar, Phuntsok Wangchuk cuts a lonely figure on this particular Friday morning. With a rather flimsy surgical mask covering his nose and mouth, the