Wildlife Deptt to use Camera Traps for recording animal diversity

Keeping in pace with the technology and fashionable scientific wildlife management tools, the department of Wildlife Protection has introduced latest cameras to be put in in several wildlife sanctuaries in Jammu so as to conserve and shield the wild animals in a very scientific technique.

The Department has recently procured IR yet as flash Camera Traps for finding out animal presence, conducting analysis in several wildlife sanctuaries and conserve the reserves as well as Nandini, Ramnagar, Sudhmahadev, etc.

To train the sphere officers in using and handling camera traps, a coaching programme was organised by the Wildlife Warden, Jammu at Nature Interpretation Centre, Manda.

The wildlife vary officers, block officers and foresters of Wildlife Division Jammu participated within the coaching programme.

The field exercise and demonstration was conducted in Ramnagar wildlife sanctuary, where the officers were practically concerned in handling, setting and deploying Camera lures within the field by a trained Camera Trap Engineer from Dehradun and Wildlife Warden Jammu.

Addressing the officers, Chief Wildlife Warden, AK Singh stressed on the requirement of introducing new technologies in wildlife management and expressed hope that by using Camera Traps, the Department would be able to survey the variety and abundance of untamed animals in protected areas.

Wildlife Warden, Jammu, Tahir scarf whereas interacting with the officers revealed that thirty camera Traps are procured by Jammu and Kathua divisions which might be shortly deployed in several protected areas. He additional informed that 2 Camera Traps are put in nowadays in Ramnagar wildlife sanctuary close to Manda zoo.

Additional PCCF, Deepak Khanna and CCF Wildlife Jammu, Upender Pachnanda were additionally gift.

Department of Wildlife Protection holds rally

Migratory Birds Reach Shallabugh Wetland

Omar underlines preservation of State's unique fauna

Highlighting the State's rich bio-diversity and uniqueness of being land of rich fauna and flora, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Friday emphasized the need for protection and preservation of this individuality of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism.

Chairing the 2nd meeting of State Board for Wildlife (SBW), the Chief Minister, who is also its Chairman, said that measures should be in place to minimize wild animal-human conflict.

"While moving forward on development front the protection of environment, forests, wetlands, water bodies and wildlife should be underlined as compulsory requirement", he added and said that greening policy should be factored in every development project.

"We have to preserve the treasure God has bestowed to us and protect it for future generation", he said calling for coordinated and holistic approach to strike balance between development and protection of environment.

The Chief Minister said that the conditions put by the Forest and Environment Department while granting permissions for some necessary development works should be adhered to in letter and spirit. He said any laxity in this direction is not acceptable.

Omar Abdullah directed for shifting of Sheep Farm from Dachhigam to some suitable area within next three to four months. He said a Committee of the officers of State Sheep and Animal Husbandry Ministry should urgently identify the place for the Sheep Farm and the shifting should take place within the fixed time frame.

This issue was hanging in balance for many years despite the Cabinet decision in this regard. The Chief Minister's direction for its shifting would give boost to the conservation and protection of 'Hangul'.

The Chief Minister said that preservation of the natural wealth of the State should be prime concern to all of us. "In this connection Government agencies and public should be fully aware of their roles. We have to be fully sensitized for its importance", he said, adding that his Government has flagged this aspect as an important concern in its policy planning.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Legislator, Ravinder Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner Secretaries, Shantmanu and Atal Duloo and Shaleen Kabra, Chief Wildlife Warden, A. K. Singh, the presidents and chairpersons of Wildlife Trust of India, Wildlife SoS, Worldwide Fund for Nature India, Wildlife Tours in India representatives from Command, Wildlife Institution of Dehrandun, Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India and public representatives.

The meeting discussed matters relating to the enhancement of ex-gratia compensation for loss of life, livestock and crop in case of wild animal-human conflict, handling and prevention of man-wild animal conflict, constitution of standing committee, setting up of solar telescope, identification and notifying of critical wildlife habitats and strengthening Wildlife Protection Department.

Snow leopard in Banihal

Heavy snowfall in the upper reaches of Banihal led to man animal conflict in which four persons, including three brothers, were injured. A snow leopard attacked them in Ramban district today.

The snow leopard trekked down from the hilly area into village Wanpora in Banihal and mauled four people near their houses this morning.

The villagers rushed to the spot, beat up the wild animal before capturing it and handed it over to the wildlife department.The injured identified as Ghulam Mohammad, 65, Mohammad Yousaf, 50, Mohammad Aslam, 40, sons of Abdul Aziz of Wanpora Karawa and Riyees Ahmed, 30, son of Ghulam Rasool of Zanihal were shifted to hospital.

After a few hours, the leopard died in a veterinary hospital here, wildlife department sources said.Police handout claimed that one leopard has attacked in the residential house of Ghulam Mohammad son of Abdul Aziz of Wanpora, Banihal. Getting information of the leopard attack, cops of Police Station Banihal reached on the spot and shifted the injured persons to Emergency Hospital Banihal.Later on, Wild Life Department captured the injured leopard and shifted the same to Veterinary Hospital Banihal for medical treatment, handout maintained. 

Pampore wetlands abuzz with migratory birds

Though their size has shrunk due to encroachments, the less known Pampore wetlands are nowadays abuzz with thousands of migratory birds who have crossed over thousands of kilometers to cherish Kashmir valley’s snow season.

Thousands of migratory birds including red crescent pochards, geese, pintails, herons, shorebirds, gadwall, cranes, ducks, and coots come to Kashmir valley. “Most of these birds could be seen in Pampore wetlands,” says advocate Nadeem Qadri, executive director of Center for Environmental Law (CEL).

Qadri, who heads a conservation project for Pampore wetlands granted by Wildlife Trust of India New Delhi last year, believes the major problems faced by Pampore wetlands are; human interference as they (Pampore wetlands) are very close to human habitation and agriculture fields.

“Use of chemical fertilizers in the agriculture fields is deteriorating the water quality of those wetlands and poses a serious threat to the aquatic life along with wild flora and fauna. In certain cases we came across the illegal encroachment and growing unplanned human habitation which we see as a growing problem,’ Qadri informed.

He said that during his field trips to these wetlands his team found some people are earth filling the portion of wetland but their (Qadri’s team) timely intervention stopped the work.

Solid waste management and its proper disposal, Qadri said is one of the main problems faced by the Pampore wetlands. “While discussing with local population we came to know that some vested interested persons have blocked the irrigation channels and inlet /outlet canal to the wetlands are defunct with the result water is stagnating in those wetlands resulting in pollutant accumulation which is serious threat to migratory birds & aquatic life,” he added.

The executive director CEL added that lack of proper sanitation facilities and the waste water find its way to the wetland and throwing domestic waste into wetlands had aggravated the situation. “Illegal encroachment in surroundings of wetlands and most of the inlet/outlet channels being chocked and blocked besides converting wetland into paddy fields are other major problems,” Qadri said.

The CEL has also formed a patrol and anti-poaching team headed by Qadri has been formulated. “In order to receive daily updates a Control Room has been established at our Head Office at Pampore and daily monitoring is done from there. Information about poaching, if any, provided by any member from team of volunteers is quickly acted upon,” Qadri added.

Fashkori Wetland Reserve

A notified wetland, Fashkori Wetland Reserve is located at Tulbagh, Pampore. “This wetlands is presently under administrative control of revenue department. As per the mandate of law these wetlands should be under the direct administrative control of Wildlife Protection Department, so that Migratory birds can be protected along with their habitat,” Qadri recommends.

Department of Wildlife Protection holds rally

The Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu Wildlife Division, in collaboration with Global Green Peace and Environment Protection Middle School, R S Pura, organised rally-cum-interaction programme at Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve to celebrate the wildlife week.

On the occasion, students from various adjoining schools of Gharana Wetland participated in the rally by holding banners, placards, etc to aware the common masses for the protection of wildlife. The rally after covering the distance of 2 km culminated at Nava Pind, which started from Gharna.

While speaking, Vijay Singh, Range Officer Wetlands and Davinder Choudhary, educated the children about the importance of wildlife sanctuaries/wetlands, its flora and fauna and their protections.

Later, group discussion contest was held in which Sheetal Verma of Global Green Peace Environment Middle School, R S Pura, Seema Choudhary of Model Public School, Shamaka, Seema Devi , Global Green Peace Environment Protection Middle School R S Pura and Priya Menia, Government Middle School Gouper Basti, R S Pura shared the top three positions. Tani Choudhary of Global Green Peace Environment Protection Middle School, R S Pura got the consolation prizes.