SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Department of Wildlife Protection has initiated the establishment of multiple control rooms across its various wildlife divisions and has issued a comprehensive public advisory in response to a surge in human-wildlife conflicts, particularly involving bears and leopards.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that these control rooms are intended to bolster the department’s capacity to respond effectively during wildlife-related emergencies. The move comes as the region has witnessed an increase in incidents of attacks by bears and leopards on people.
Control rooms have been set up in the wildlife divisions of South, North, and Central Kashmir, as well as in the Wetlands, Jammu, Rajouri-Poonch, and Chenab Valley divisions, including Kishtwar.
The public advisory issued by the department emphasizes safety measures for individuals venturing into or residing near forest areas. Residents are strongly urged to avoid moving alone in forest environments, with particular attention drawn to the increased vulnerability of women and children to leopard and bear attacks. The advice includes moving in groups and ensuring that children are always accompanied by adults.
Furthermore, the advisory recommends sticking to established forest paths and refraining from using shortcuts. It also advises against collecting firewood and other household materials during the early morning and evening hours, periods identified as having higher leopard activity. The department cautions against approaching or chasing wild animals if sighted and suggests refraining from making noise when a leopard is encountered.
Communities living in proximity to forests are encouraged to complete outdoor activities such as fetching water, grazing livestock, and collecting materials during daylight hours. The advisory also addresses the issue of open defecation near forest fringes at night, urging residents to utilize household or community toilet facilities instead. For livestock taken to forests or pastures near crop fields, the department recommends that they be accompanied by three to four individuals, and suggests attaching bells or other sound-producing devices to some cattle.
Residents are also advised to maintain well-lit areas around their homes and to clear bushes and shrubs to enhance visibility, thereby reducing potential hiding spots for wild animals. The department has also warned against the dumping of kitchen waste around homes, as this practice can attract stray dogs, which in turn can draw leopard activity to residential areas.
To mitigate risks, cattle sheds are to be made ‘leopard-proof’ through the use of sturdy wooden or concrete structures. The newly established control rooms have been equipped with essential resources, including bear and leopard cages, capture nets, tranquilizing guns, thermal cameras, binoculars, searchlights, GPS devices, protective gear, and communication equipment. Rescue vans and motorcycles have also been made available to support rapid response efforts.
In the event of a wildlife emergency, the public is instructed to contact the concerned wildlife control room directly. If wildlife staff are not immediately available, individuals are advised to seek assistance from the nearest territorial forest, police, or revenue officials.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
