William Widmer Photography :: San Francisco / London :: Social Documentary / Photojournalism 

between giants

Rupshu Valley, Ladakh.

The Changpa shear their goats and sell both raw wool and spun yarn to the Indian government on an annual basis. 1kg of wool sells for around 1,600 Rupees ($45 US), and 7-10 goats must be sheared to achieve this amount. This winter, thousands of goats have died as a result of much more snow than the region normally receives. As a result, the Changpa and other nomadic communities have appealed to the Indian government for support, and the economic survival of these pastoral communities hangs in the balance.