Unidentified poachers beheaded an endangered leopard and killed her two cubs in the jungles of Doda district sending shocks waves across strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir.
Unidentified poachers beheaded an endangered leopard and killed her two cubs in the jungles of Doda district sending shocks waves across strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir.
Poachers fled with the severed head and limbs of one of cubs after dumping the carcasses in the fields at Jakhadi village of Doda district in Jammu region. The incident was reported on Friday when people found the carcasses in the village.
Police swung into action and started investigations into the matter. “We have registered an FIR and investigations are in full swing”, said Arid Reshu, superintendent of police, Doda district.
Police later informed the matter to the wildlife authorities who dispatched the team to the area to investigate the matter. The team found that the mother leopard was headless and one of the cubs was severed of his legs. Despite hectic efforts, the head and legs were not recovered which means that poachers might have taken them along.
“We have conducted post-mortem of the three animals and its report is expected by Sunday. Further action will be taken after that”, said Sajid Zaheer, range officer, Kishtwar.
Leopard is a schedule one animal which categorises it among the endangered species. “Leopard is an important species and a schedule one animal (under the wild life act)”, said Arvind Kumar Singh, chief wild life warden Jammu and Kashmir.
“Initially the leopards were poached for skin. But with times every part of the animal is being used”, said a wild-lifer.
Rampant feeling of trees, infrastructure boom in the jungle areas have led to the disturbance of the habitat of the precious animal. With the result the wild cats come down to plains for food.
However, this has led to the main-animal conflict at number of places. Villagers at some places have poisoned these wild cats as a last ditch to effort to save their cattle from being consumed by these animals.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}