Born to Watch: A Shepherd’s Unexpected Calling

By Jigmat Lundup, 2025

Murup Tsewang never imagined that watching the mountains could one day become his life’s calling. Born in the quiet village of Hemis Shukpachan, he spent his childhood herding sheep and goats, not going to school, but learning something different—the rhythms of the wild. When his mother passed away early, the mountains became both his responsibility and his teacher. Years later, while working as a carpenter in Uley, a friend invited him on a snow leopard tour just to carry gear. That’s when someone handed him a spotting scope—and the ibex and fox he spotted that day revealed a truth he hadn’t realised: he had always been preparing for this. Today, Murup is one of Ladakh’s most respected snow leopard spotters. From before sunrise to sunset, he stands on wind-swept ridges, scanning rocky cliffs with unwavering patience. It's hard work—silent, cold, and often without reward—but he keeps showing up. Because when the leopard appears, and a visitor sheds tears of joy, he knows it’s worth it. In his off time, he quietly handcrafts tiny woollen snow leopards, each one echoing the mystery of the animal he has come to know so well. Murup’s journey from shepherd to snow leopard guardian is not just a story of chance—it’s a story of quiet endurance, of a life shaped by loss, instinct, and the unspoken wisdom of the land.