Livestock husbandry is an essential part of the traditional economy of many high altitude Tibetans in Nepal. The importance of animals in Tibetan communities in the Himalayas is reflected in the intensity of ritual activity and sociopolitical organisation which often accompany herding. In some Himalayan areas there have been major socio-economic changes in recent years. Livestock and human overpopulation, the building of cheese factories and advent of tourism have all had a great effect on some Himalayan herders. Ecological problems caused by overpopulation of people and livestock have perhaps caused the most significant changes for some Himalayan herding groups. This article is concerned with the Tibetan herdsmen of Langtang, an east-west running Himalayan valley which lies in north-central Nepal. How are Langtang herdsmen organised socially and politically? How have recent socio-economic and ecological changes affected the traditional life of herders in Langtang? These and other questions will be discussed through the course of the article.