Wildlife Authorities Order ‘Hunting Down’ Of Man-Eater Leopard In Uri Baramulla
Zaffar Iqbal
Baramulla, Sep 24 (GNS): Wildlife authorities on Saturday ordered “hunting” of a man-eater leopard in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The order by Chief Wildlife Warden, accorded sanction “to hunt or cause the animal to be hunted forthwith,” in favour of Wildlife Warden North Division, Sopore following a letter by the latter in view of the killing of two minors in Uri Baramulla within 5 kilometers distance of the each incident.
On 16 September at 7.00 PM, a girl child namely Munzia Beigh daughter of Imran of Jabadar Lachipora Boniyar (Uri) was lifted and killed by a leopard. Her body was recovered from nearby forest area late in the night on the same day. Subsequently on September 22, at about 7.30 PM another child namely Ali Hussain son of Abbas Hussain of Dani Cholan Boniyar (Uri) was lifted and killed by the leopard and subsequently his body was retrieved after several hours search from the forest area.
The Chief Wildlife Warden, who in exercise of the powers under Sub-section (6) of the section 11 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 accorded the sanction subject to completing of the several conditions.
“That it shall be ensured that all efforts to capture the animal through trapping by cages or tranquilizing have not been successful,” reads one of the several conditions in the order, a copy of which lies with GNS.
“Proper identification of the leopard be ensured before it is hunted, ensuring that no animal is hunted on account of mistaken identity.”
The Chief Warden has also ordered the permission shall not be misused by any organization or individual to avail the opportunity for hunting any other leopard. “The possession of the dead body, if and when hunted shall be taken over by (Wildlife warden north Division Sopore),” reads the order, underlining that the permission shall be valid for 15 days.
Meanwhile, an officer of the wildlife department told GNS that teams of different hunters of the department have been deputed in the area and “it is hoped that this man-eating leopard is killed as soon as possible”. (GNS)
