Wildlife department in mountainous Kargil district is grappling with shortage of manpower and equipment, officials said.
The department was functioning with just one range officerand three permanent wildlife guards who are inadequate and unable to fulfillthe mandate of protecting wildlife in the region, the official said.
Regional Wildlife Warden for Kargil, Sajid Sultan admittedthat the wildlife department in Kargil needed more staff.
“We are short of the staff here. We have written tohigher authorities to post more field staff and officials in Kargil district inorder to run the department properly,” Sultan said.
He said that the department needs trained and permanentstaff that will be able to control a mob in human habitation during specialsituations like rescuing endangered animals.
An official of the wildlife department said that Kargil areawas home to many wild animal species including some that are endangered, addingthat the government should strengthen the wildlife department by bringing inmore staff and equipments.
He advocated that government should establish a zoo in thehilly district which can attract locals and tourists and also become a sourceof revenue for the department.