Bereft of Adequate Men and Machinery, Wildlife Department Caught in Quandary
Babar Rather
Bandipora, Oct 17 (GNS): In yet another incident of man-animal conflict, a leopard attacked and injured a man in Arampora village of Sumbal in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district this evening.
Reports reaching GNS said that one Gulzar Ahmad Ganie, son of Assadullah Ganie, a resident of Tangpora, Pattan, was left injured after being attacked by a leopard in Arampora village.
He was immediately evacuated to CHC Sumbal for treatment.
A doctor at CHC Sumbal told GNS that he has received minor injuries in his thigh and left ear and is being treated at the medical facility.
When contacted, a Wildlife Department official told GNS that they are on their way to the area as they were earlier engaged in a search operation in Hajin belt of the district.
Pertinently, last week, a leopard killed 14 sheep and left several others injured in Khumina village of Hajin.
On August 29, 2023, a seven-year-old boy was also mauled to death by a leopard in the Nesbal area of the district. Also, a leopard was spotted in Inderkote and Wangipora villages of the district earlier.
Moreover, with limited staff and inadequate machinery the Wildlife Department’s Range Office Ajas & Bandipora employees are caught in a tangle to tackle the situation.
Each time, there is an attack or sighting of the animal, the Wildlife Department, led by Range Officer Fida Ur Rehman, has to scramble to live upto the expectations of higher-ups and locals alike, albeit with limited men and machinery. (GNS)
