The Valley of the Cats is inhabited by 21 local families of nomadic Tibetan yak herders. Visitors stay with one of the families on a strict rotational basis to ensure that tourism income is shared equally among the community. Below you can find out more about some of these wonderful people.
昂赛“大猫谷”中选拔了21户藏族牧民家庭作为接待家庭。这21户家庭将轮流接待游客团队，以确保自然体验的收益是整个社区共享的。在下文中，我们将向您介绍这些友好牧民家庭的代表。
Meet Zhashuji, local government leader
扎西东周 昂赛乡书记
Zhashuji has been local government leader in the Valley of the Cats since May 2014. He is a strong supporter of conservation and recognises the immense richness of the unique ecosystem he oversees. His vision has been instrumental in opening up the valley to a limited number of visitors in order to strengthen local incomes and support Snow Leopard conservation.
扎书记从2014年5月起担任昂赛乡书记。作为坚定的环保主义者，他十分珍惜昂赛丰富的自然生态资源。作为三江源国家公园澜沧江源园区昂赛管护站站长，他管理自然观察体验项目，希望借此加强公众环保教育、增加当地群众收入并助力雪豹保护。
A Typical Family – 更求江才 Geng Qiu Jiang Cai & 青梅卓玛 Qing Mei Zhuo Ma
Location
Niandu village, about 50 minutes drive from the local government, close to the main roads, convenient transportation.
Family members
GengQiu JiangCai (38 years old), his wife Jigme Dolma (36 years old), her oldest daughter Quzhu Bamao (16 years old), her second daughter Yingxi Gazhuo (14 years old), her son Yeshe Gyatso (13 years old), who go away to school and come home during holidays, her third daughter, Pema Phuntsok (2 years old), and her youngest daughter, Pema Metok (1 year old).
The owner of the house is a typical Tibetan man, humorous and outgoing. His wife Jigme Dolma is smart and efficient, the eldest daughter, Quzhu Bamao, is proficient in Chinese, and also cooks well. There are two lively little girls who are learning how to walk.
Yingxi Gazhuo cooking in the family home…
- Geng Qiu Jiang Cai scanning for Snow Leopards
Livestock, pets and vehicles
The family has one cat, two dogs, more than 80 yaks, three horses and a pickup truck.
Living conditions
The house is located on the open hillside, with a beautiful view of the Mekong river.
In the whole pastoral area, this host family has good condition, the interior decoration is bright and clean, the ground is laid with leathery floors. There are sofa, TV, stove and independent gas stove in the living room, and the basic necessities of life.
This family has many friends. They often come to the home to sit or sleep. Guests can also sleep in the living room, but the host family gets up before 7 o ‘clock every day and starts to brew tea.
Unusually the eldest daughter is a vegetarian, and the kitchen utensils (frying pan, shovels and chopping board) are divided into two sets of meat and vegetables, which are suitable for strict vegetarians.
Facilities
Basic household goods are complete. Home equipped with power, emergency lights, gas stove, washing machine and some commonly used medicines.
Surrounding wildlife
In the nearby area the family have seen Snow Leopard, Leopard, Lynx, Pallas’s Cat, White-lipped Deer, Blue Sheep, Red Fox, Glover’s Pika, Himalayan Marmot and Otter.