Bandipora, Dec 9: The ill-equipped Wildlife Department is seeking help from the local hunters to trap or kill the animals attacking human population in this North Kashmir district.
 Sources told Greater Kashmir that the department was forced to hire the services of hunters as it lacked the manpower, guns and equipments like traps, cages and tranquilizers.
 “The department oversees about 120 villages in four Tehsils and is finding it difficult to stop these incidents,” sources added.
 Sources said that few days back, the officials of wildlife department, after failing to trap a dreaded bear at Barzulla village here, called the local hunters for help. “The hunters successfully killed the animal,” sources added.
 A Wildlife official told Greater Kashmir that about 80 bears were on prowl in the upper villages of Bandipora including Barzulla, Mantrigam, Lawaypora, Aythmulla, Garoor, Aragam, Ajar and Malangam and the department had only five to eight employees to tackle the incidents of attack on humans. He said the residents of these areas were living in constant fear and barring their children to move outside homes after dusk.
 “We have no other option other than to hunters for trapping and killing the dreaded animals,” he said.
 He said the department was in dire need of five tranquilizer guns, two vehicles, five cages and three nets.
 As per the official record, about three persons have fallen prey to the wild animals and 25 sustained injures in the attacks by wild animals during last three months.
 When contacted, the Chief Wildlife Conservator, Hafeez Ullah Siddique told Greater Kashmir that they were hiring hunters whenever the need arises. About the shortage of manpower, guns and equipments, he said, “I will look into the matter.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST