Apni Party calls for geo-tagging of endangered wild animals in JK

Srinagar, Jun 10: Urging the J&K government to focus on resources, manpower and training of field staff for minimizing the man-animal conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir, Apni Party on Thursday called for geo-tagging of endangered wild animals in the Union Territory.
In a statement issued here, Javid Hassan Baig, former MLA and Apni Party spokesman, said that the wildlife department should be equipped with latest gadgets and manpower to tackle the menace that is taking a heavy toll of precious human lives.
“The government should provide the latest scientific tools to the wildlife staff to trap the wild animals that venture in human habitations because of their own shrinking habitats. Besides, the government should go for geo/radio tagging of endangered wild animals especially leopards and bears who have turned into man eaters because of multiple factors,” Baig remarked.
He said that by introducing digital tagging of wild animals would not only preserve these species but will surely help in protection of human lives that get consumed for lack of administrative attention.
Baig also stressed on capsule training courses for the wild life field staff so that they get acquainted with the latest modalities and strategies to tackle the intrusion of wild animals in the human habitats. “Only, a well trained and fully geared wildlife staff can prevent eventualities from happening. Instead of wasting money on hiring private hunters, the wildlife department should get its field staff trained and updated in phased manners,” he demanded.
Expressing deep shock and grief over the recent incidents of man-animal conflict in Kashmir valley particularly in which a minor girl was mauled to death in Ompora-Budgam recently, Baig urged the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to order supplementary budgetary allocations to the wildlife department to meet out its latest requirements.
Baig also asserted that stray dogs from cities and towns are being reportedly lifted by municipalities and dropped near forest boundaries which eventually lure the wild animals towards human habitations where such kind of ominous incidents take place.
He said that the government should also issue an advisory to the urban local bodies to address the menace of stray dogs scientifically and not to ferry them to the peripheries just for the sake of its duty.