Srinagar, Aug 13: The Jammu and Kashmir Department of Wildlife Protection has set up several control rooms across its wildlife divisions and issued a public advisory amid growing encounters between people and wild animals.
The move comes amid an increase in bear and leopard attacks across the region.
The department said the control rooms will strengthen response during wildlife emergencies.
Several control rooms have been established in the wildlife divisions of South, North and Central Kashmir, Wetlands, Jammu, Rajouri-Poonch and Chenab Division Kishtwar.
The department has urged people not to move alone in forest areas. “Children and women are more vulnerable to leopard and bear attacks,” it said, advising people to move in groups and ensure children are accompanied by adults.
It said, people should use regular forest paths and avoid shortcuts. Forest visits for collecting firewood and other household material should be avoided in the early morning and evening, when leopard activity is higher”.
People should not approach or chase a wild animal if sighted.
“It is advisable not to make noise” when a leopard is sighted, the advisory said.
It said that residents living near forests should complete outdoor activities during daylight. “These include fetching water, grazing livestock and collecting household material.”
The department has also advised people against using bushes and forest fringes for open defecation at night.
It urged communities to create household or community toilet facilities.
Livestock taken to forests or pastures near crop fields should be accompanied by three to four people. Bells or other sound-producing devices may be placed around the necks of some cattle, it said.
Residents have been asked to keep areas around homes well-lit and clear bushes and shrubs to improve visibility.
The department also warned against dumping kitchen waste around homes. “This invites stray dogs to the spot which in turn invite leopard movement,” it said.
Cattle sheds should be made “leopard proof” using wooden or concrete structures, the advisory said.
The control rooms have been equipped with bear and leopard cages, capture nets, tranquilising guns, thermal cameras, binoculars, searchlights, GPS devices, protective gear and communication equipment. Rescue vans and motorcycles are also available, the department said.
In an emergency, people have been asked to contact the concerned wildlife control room.
Where wildlife staff are unavailable, the nearest territorial forest, police or revenue officials may be contacted for assistance.
