Baramulla, Dec 12: In a concerted effort to protect the Markhor and Hangul species in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Protection (DWP), on Tuesday undertook a comprehensive training program for local communities in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.
The training aims to equip Markhor and Hangul watchers with the skills necessary for effective patrolling and monitoring during the winter season.
An official of Wildlife Trust of India said that anthropogenic activities, including road construction, power lines, army settlements, livestock grazing, and poaching, have severely impacted the habitats and populations of Markhor (Capra falconeri) and Hangul (Cervus hanglu) in the region.
The one-day capacity-building program, conducted at the Range office in Baramulla, brought together 25 participants and focused on enhancing their ability to carry out vigilant patrolling during the winter when these mountain ungulates migrate to lower elevations.
Dr. Tanushree Srivastava, Project Head and Manager at WTI, emphasized the critical role of Markhor and Hangul Watchers in monitoring animal movements, reporting illegal activities, and safeguarding these vulnerable species.
The training covered aspects such as identifying hoof marks, scats, pellets, and using indirect methods to detect the presence of wildlife during patrolling surveys.
Participants were trained on utilizing GPS devices, deploying camera traps, and effectively monitoring wildlife in the field. All 25 participants were provided with waterproof jackets to enhance their preparedness during winter patrolling.
Wildlife Warden North, Mr. Mohammad Maqbool Baba, and Wildlife Ranger North, Mr. Altaf Kaul, stressed the importance of community-based organizations in empowering local communities and preventing illegal activities related to critical wildlife species.
The training program included a pre and post-test evaluation, revealing a significant increase of 75% in knowledge among participants.
Over 90% of trainees expressed that the training was innovative and directly relevant to their work.
The Markhor and Hangul Watchers pledged to maintain constant vigilance over Markhor in their rugged habitats and Hangul in all corridor areas throughout the species distribution areas in the valley.
Officials said that the initiative represents a collaborative and community-focused approach to wildlife conservation, recognizing the indispensable role of local communities in safeguarding endangered species.
