Two leopards fall prey to poachers; FIR registered

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 19

The Forest Department has registered an FIR under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act against unknown persons for killing two leopards in forests of Palampur yesterday. Two leopards were entangled in wire traps laid by poachers. While one of the leopards died on the spot, the other died in Gopalpur zoo today.

DFO Palampur BS Yadav said a team of forest officials was scanning the forest area for more wire traps. The poachers, who set up the wire traps, have not been identified.

The wire traps had left one of the leopards severely injured. Sources here said that the leopards killed were young. The leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and killing them was a non-bailable offence.

Due to winter and low temperatures wild animals migrate from snow bound areas of Dhauladhar wildlife sanctuary to lower hills. However, this migration gives rise to poaching of wild animals. While in the forests around Dharamsala wild goat was being poached in lower hills the wild boar, sambar and barking dear are being poached. All these animals are protected under various schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act. On the outskirts of urban areas gun shots can be heard at periodic intervals which indicate poaching activities. In lower areas of the districts and Dehra poaching was going on with various methods. Besides licensed guns, traps are being laid to poach wild animal. In rural areas of the district the poachers lay crude traps made of clutch wire of two wheelers. The wire traps are laid in such a manner that once an animal is trapped in it, the more it struggles to free itself the tighter the squeeze becomes. The traps lead to permanent injures to wild or stray animal caught in these traps.

Jeollen Anderson, a US citizen running an organization for protecting and treating stray animals, says that these days a lot of cases are coming to light in which the stray dogs and cow are getting trapped in wire traps set by poachers. “In many cases I have rescued severely injured dogs, cats, pigs and cow. These animals were entangled in wire traps of poachers. In other cases animals get injured in another kind of trap in which an explosive substance is kept wrapped in wheat flour or some other eatable. As the animal tries to swallow the bait bursts in its mouth, causing it severe injury. I found a stray dog with his mouth blown off due to explosive,” she said.

Anderson said that she had come across seven such cases in one month. “A cow had stepped on a wire trap which cut off her foot. It happened near bus stand. The next time it was even worse. A cow in Palampur had bitten an explosive trap hidden in a roti, which burst in her mouth badly fracturing and unhinging her jaw. Both died slowly over a week’s time,” she said.

The activist said that survival of the animal wounded in trap is rare. “Those who survive were left permanently disabled. The traps are meticulously hidden. Is a child inadvertently steps on the trap he/she becomes maimed,” said a representative there.

The wildlife department officials, when contacted, said: “Wild animals migrate to lower area from their sanctuaries in winters. The Wildlife Department was responsible for protecting the animals in the wildlife sanctuaries and zoos. In the areas outside wildlife sanctuaries territorial forest officials are entrusted with checking poaching activities. However, if some specific poaching case comes to our notice action can be taken,” he said.

Different traps in operation

• Besides licenced guns, traps are being laid to poach wild animal. 
• In rural areas poachers lay crude traps made of clutch wire of two wheelers. The wire traps are laid in such a manner that once an animal is trapped in it, the more it struggles to free itself the tighter the squeeze becomes. 
• In another kind of trap an explosive substance is kept wrapped in wheat flour or some other eatable. As the animal tries to swallow it the bait bursts in its mouth, causing it severe injury.

Animals being poached

• While in the forests around Dharamsala wild goat was being poached in lower hills wild boar, sambar and barking dear are being poached. 
• All these animals are protected under various schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act.