Authorities urge people to stay alert to movement of wildlife animals

Srinagar, Apr 5: There has been a rise in man-animal conflict incidents over the past few days in Kashmir causing concern among the people here.

Amid the rising incidents of wild animals moving towards human habitations, the Wildlife Protection Department has asked people to stay alert and issued “Do’s and Don’ts” to avoid any damage.

Wildlife department officials said that a surge in the incidents of wild animals moving towards human habitations has been reported. Amid the rising number of incidents of man-animal conflict, the department of wildlife protection has issued the advisory for people in order to avoid such man-animal conflicts besides sharing their numbers in case of any sighting of wild animals.

As per the advisory issued by the Wildlife department, the people should not move alone especially during the early and late hours. “Isolated and uninhabited places should be avoided especially during night hours.

“Do not move alone in the forest area. Children and women are more vulnerable to leopard / bear attacks, which can be contained if they move in groups or children are accompanied by an elderly person. Always move on regular forest paths and avoid shortcuts. Avoid going to forests for collection of wood etc. in early morning or evening hours, which is the peak activity time for leopards” the advisory said.

It further said that, people should not chase or try to go near a wild animal if sighted from a distance in the forest areas.: Livestock taken to pastures inside forests and near crop fields must be attended by three to four persons. Any type of bell or sound producing device be put around the neck of a few cattle. Avoid using bush growths and forest fringe areas for nature calls in late evening or night hours, this time coincides with peak activity of wild animals. It is requested to create community or home toilet facilities to avoid such dangers.”

“People living in the vicinity of forests should also complete their outside activities such as social visits, fetching water from streams, grazing cattle, collection of household items etc during day time only. Provide sufficient light around your utilities outside your home so that animals do not feel safe in the vicinity” .

The wildlife authorities have asked people not to create kitchen dumping around houses as this invites stray dogs to the spot which in turn invites leopard movement. “The villagers must regularly remove all bushes or shrubs from the vicinity of houses in a cooperative manner. Such vegetation clearance will increase visibility and help to keep the leopard away from their houses. The cattle shed in village houses should be leopard proof using wooden material or concrete structure. The pet dogs kept in houses can also alarm the presence of predators in the vicinity of houses,” the advisory said.

“It has been observed that whenever a leopard is sighted, people make a lot of noise which can prove dangerous. As such the wild animal feels insecure and can cause damage. It is advisable not to make noise, while leopards are sighted. In case of any emergency, the Wildlife Protection Department in Kashmir Region be contacted on the contact numbers given below. In case of non-availability of Wildlife Protection Department in the area, the nearest forest territorial / police / revenue officials may be contacted for necessary recovery protection. The numbers are, for central control room Hokersar Wetland 9906614750. Central division Dachigam Srinagar 9622518733, North division Sopore 8899012071, South division Bijbehara 9596177461, Shopian division 9906967104,”said Wildlife department officials.