Hunt for man-eater Leopard: WildLife, Forest officials set up joint camp in Budgam

Srinagar, Jun 7: In a bid to track down the man-eater leopard who killed the four-year-old girl in Ompora area of Budgam, WildLife and Forest Protection Force (FPF) Monday set up a joint camp in the district to trace the wild animal.
The Forest department and the WildLife officials also issued a list of Dos and Don’t for the people of district to prevent further attack by the animal on humans.
Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that in the the backdrop of the unfortunate incident of lifting of a child by a leopard in Ompora, the Principal Chief Conservator Forests Mohit Gera along with the officers of the Department of Wildlife Protection, Forest Department and Forest Protection Force visited the vulnerable areas of Wanbal, Rangreth, Ompora, old airport, Baghi-mehtab, Dhamsana Kralpora, Yechigam Budgam, Thokerpora Budgam and Navhar charishareef to ensure that all possible measures are taken and such incident does not reoccur.
“The PCCF also examined the efforts being made to capture the conflict leopard and initiated measures like establishment of permanent camp at Ompora and other vulnerable spots to be jointly manned by Department of Forest, Wildlife and Forest Protection Force; intensified patrolling within a radius of 10 Km from the control rooms; deploying of Camera traps; creation of intensive awareness drives regarding Do’s and Don’ts to be strictly observed to avoid such incidents in future,” Officials said, adding that the Gera also directed the DFO Pir Panjal Division for immediate removal of fallen material and pruning & thinning of plantation as well laying of more paths.”
As per officials, Gera stated that the plantation area also needs to be suitably reinforced with suitable fencing. “The wildlife department to follow up with local municipality to intensify stray dog management and waste disposal,” the officials said that “PCCF also called for installing of lights around the perimeter of the plantation either solar lights or through PDD. He also called for installation of hoardings for carrying message regarding steps to be followed by the public in case leopard is sighted. There is a need also to enhance the involvement of people in preventive measures as well as agencies like Wildlife SOS, which can play a very important role in preventing such ugly incidents.”