By Imtiyaz Pandow
Budgam: Fear has taken over Rawalpora Wanbal localities of central Kashmir’s Budgam district after few locals spotted leopard in the residential area.
“After getting the information about the presence of locals our team including warden and range officer reached the area in the wee hours and four trapping cages were laid at four different locations including Gulzarpora, Hill view colony Rangreth, Malik Bagh Rangreth and outside the Humhama Airport yard,” said Bashir Ahmad, Block Officer Wild life control room Chadoora.
Ahmad further added that for 10 to 12 days no movement of the leopard was reported but the cages were not removed from locations.
After few days leapord was again spotted and the teams were again rushed to the area and two cages were shifted to other locations on the basis of leopard’s movement. “There are only two control rooms to look over the whole district and the team is comprised of very few members so it is not possible to give whole time at one location or reach the spot on earliest stage, still our team often visits the Rawalpora wanabal area to catch the leopard” he added.
Ahmad has sought the public cooperation in this issue and advised people to inform the department soon after spotting the leopard rather trying themselves to catch the animal. He said that people need not to be panic as the leopard does not harm humans until people annoy or try to harm this wild animal. Leopards mostly attack animals with four legs but still for the precautionary measures people must take care of their children and inform the department soon after spotting any marks of its presence.
Regarding the existence of this leopard in the area Ahmad said that the area has vast plots of land with dense plantation that leads leopards to survive easily as this animal don’t live in caves. “On behalf of my department I request the people to make sure the clearance of these fields having dense plantation and thorny bushes and leave no option to these wild animals to habitat in the residential areas.” Ahmad Added.
