Pulwama, Feb 07: The Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir, has established a dedicated Wildlife Control Room in Pulwama to address the growing issue of man-animal conflict.
Suhail Ahmad, Wildlife Warden of the Shopian Division, told Rising Kashmir that during winter, multiple calls were received from different areas of Pulwama regarding wild animals entering human settlements. He said most reports concerned leopard sightings in villages like Koil and Malangpora.
Previously, a control room operating from Tral had to respond to distress calls from Pulwama and its adjoining villages. However, the Wildlife Warden stated that the response time was often delayed. “The Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama raised concerns about the delayed response,” he said, adding that this prompted the establishment of a dedicated control room in Pulwama.
To ensure a swift response, employees from Pulwama and nearby villages have been deputed to staff the newly established control room. Authorities have also issued a formal order for its immediate operation.
The order states that with the increasing number of wildlife incidents, ensuring both human safety and wildlife protection has become crucial. “This facility will play a vital role in coordinating efforts to address human-wildlife conflicts, conduct rescue operations, and enforce wildlife protection laws,” it reads.
The wildlife control room will be staffed by trained personnel available round-the-clock to ensure immediate response. It has also been equipped with mobile communication tools to maintain coordination with field teams.
“This office believes that the establishment of this control room will significantly enhance our ability to manage human-wildlife interactions, creating a safer and more effective environment for both the local community and wildlife,” the order reads.
