Baramulla, Dec 01: In view of the increasing wildlife animal attacks in parts of north Kashmir, the Wildlife Trust of India provided field gears and equipment to the Department of Wildlife Protection, North Division, Sopore.
An official of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) said that the step was taken in view of increasing human wildlife animal Conflict and to augment the human-leopard conflict mitigation work in Boniyar, Lachipora and its adjoining conflict zones of district Baramulla.
The field gears and equipment were provided by WTI, through a Rapid Action Project (RAP) and was supported by Foundation Segre.
Officials told Rising Kashmir that the gears and equipment include four tents, five camera traps, six torches and twelve sleeping bags.
On this occasion the Deputy commissioner, Baramulla, Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar, formally handed over the sanctioned field gears and equipment to the Department staff in the Wildlife Range office, Baramulla.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla said that there is a need to take both preventive and active approach while handling the man animal conflict.
She stressed on creating an awareness at the community level to develop a foresight on mitigating long-term pragmatic solutions to the problem.
Dr. Tanushree Srivastava, Manager and Head, J&K, WTI said that with further increase in human population, the extent of human-wildlife conflict is expected to further increase in the near future.
“Continuous efforts are required to deal with the situation on ground, which includes better training and equipping of the frontline staff,” Dr. Tanushree said.
She further added that WTI is assisting the departments to make the local communities more aware and better understand the ways to avoid getting into such situations along with actively participating in the wildlife conservation efforts in the region.
Sameer Khazir Assistant Manager, J&K WTI told Rising Kashmir that the distribution of the sanctioned field gears to the wildlife staff is expected to motivate and support the staff and aid in the mitigation of human-wildlife conflict
in this part of the UT.
“The camera traps handed over to the wildlife protection department will be placed in the conflict zones to monitor
the movement of leopards and other animals involved in the conflict area. It will definitely help the department to mitigate human wildlife conflict in the area,” Sameer added.
On this occasion Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Mohammad Maqbool Baba, Wildlife Warden North, Altaf Kounser Kaul Range officer Baramulla, Dr. Tanushree Srivastava (Manager
and Head, J&K, WTI), Sameer Khazir were present.
An official from the wildlife department said that there were around 30 incidents of man-animal conflicts reported in north Kashmir this year.
“Uri subdivision of Baramulla remained the most affected area where man-animal conflict incidents occurred this year,” he added.
He said that the man-animal conflict saw children falling prey to the wild animals.
In September 2022 only, five children were killed by a leopard in the border town of Uri.
