Ladakh L-G highlights need to curb poaching, raise awareness

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Brigadier BD Mishra chaired the 10th meeting of the State Board for Wildlife of Ladakh.

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The L-G requested wildlife expert Dr MK Ranjitsinh to assist UT administration in profiling wildlife in Ladakh, drafting UT’s wildlife policy and preserving wildlife based on warden care by appointing Army officials as honorary wildlife wardens and submit the draft at the earliest.

Brig Mishra emphasised the need to raise awareness about preserving wildlife and stopping poaching and trafficking of wild animals. He said efforts should be made and initiatives must be taken to raise familiarity among tourists about the wildlife and their preservation in Ladakh.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Brij Mohan Sharma apprised the board members of the agenda points for the meeting viz confirmation of minutes of the board’s ninth meeting; verification of impact zone and safety zone for Mandal Thang Field Firing Range in Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary; reporting of new species of bear —Tibetan Brown Bear and Tibetan Blue Bear — from High Altitude Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary that was spotted in Kungyam and verified by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI); and the publication about the same in Oryx.

Population estimation of Tibetan Gazelle found in High Altitude Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary; notification of state tree (Shukpa) and state flower (Tsersnon); ex-gratia compensation in cases of man-animal conflict; notification of honourary wildlife warden and training workshop for Army/ITBP officials and wildlife clearance for 14 Army infrastructure development projects and five defence road projects in Karakoram and Changthang wildlife sanctuaries were also discussed during the meeting.

Approving all agenda points, the L-G emphasised the importance of taking steps to ensure that the Tibetan Blue Bear is protected and not harmed by the people in Changthang area by including the endangered species in the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Terming killing of wildlife as a cognisable offence, the L-G informed the board members that he would write a letter to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 14 Corps of the Army in this regard.

The L-G also released poster and pamphlets on ‘The Big Seven of Ladakh’ for school students to raise awareness about the rich flora and fauna of Ladakh. These Big Seven include Brown Bear ‘Denmo’, state bird Black-Necked Crane, state plant (Shukpa), state animal (Snow Leopard) and state flower (Tsersnon).