Surviving the Pashmina plateau
Nomadic Changpa pastoralists and their goats give us the rare Pashmina wool. Today, they brave icy temperatures—and climate change
September 12, 2026
Straddled between Tibet and Ladakh is the cold and bare Changthang plateau, where not much grows except grass and wheat. Its inhabitants, the Changpa tribe, sustain themselves by rearing the Changthangi mountain goats.
These goats survive Ladakh’s freezing temperatures by growing a thick undercoat. Come summer, they shed it, and a finely-combed version of this undercoat is what we know as pashmina. The goats are the Changpas’ lifeline: pashmina sales from the summer sustain families through the year, as does a steady supply of milk.
The tribe has spent generations herding these nimble-footed goats, moving seasonally to places with greener pastures. Now, they find their way of life threatened: snow and rain have become more erratic, affecting the herd’s nutrition, health, and wool production. The Changpas say their life is easier than that of their ancestors, but the underlying tension is rife in their voice. Without access to education, healthcare, or alternative employment, they have no other choice but to continue as herders.
The goats are the Changpas’ lifeline: pashmina sales from the summer sustain families through the year, as does a steady supply of milk.
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