With the onset of summer, sheepherders in the Mugu district have started taking their livestock to the highlands. During the winter, the sheep are brought to grasslands in lower altitudes for grazing.

Since the sheep cannot survive the summer heat and get sick, the herders take them to the highlands from the month of May and bring them back to the lowlands around October. Sheep graze at an altitude of 3,200 to 4,000 metres above sea level.

Kusa Rokaya of Murma village said that during their stay in the highlands, most of the sheep are sheltered in the caves for 6-7 months.

The locals of Murma, Mundu, Pina, Kotila, Ghatlekh, Jhayari, Bam and other highland settlements have a tradition of keeping sheep.

According to the data of the District Animal Hospital and Animal Services Office, there are around 31,000 sheep in the district.

Bhimchand Budha, Head of the District Animal Hospital and Animal Services Office, said sheep herding among locals has been on the decline as village youths migrate to cities for study and employment.

Buddha informed that at present a sheep costs between Rs 15,000 to Rs 17,000. “Ten years ago, the price of sheep was Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000, but now it has increased to Rs 17,000,” said Budha.