[3] Unlike many other nomadic groups in Tibet, the Changpa are not under pressure from settled farmers as the vast majority of land they inhabit is too inhospitable for farming.

[5] Only a small part of Changthang crosses the border into Ladakh, in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

It is, however, on a historically important route for travelers journeying from Ladakh to Lhasa, and now has many different characteristics due to being part of India.

[6] For many Changpa, rearing of animals and consuming and selling their produce (milk and its products, hair and meat) is their only means of livelihood.

[7] The Changpa rear the highly pedigreed and prized Changra goats (Capra hircus) that yield the rare Pashmina (Cashmere) fibre.