J&K govt making extra efforts to protect wildlife

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government is making efforts to strengthen the Wildlife Protection department of the state so as to effectively control wildlife crimes and handle man-animal conflict.

"The government will make all efforts to strengthen the department through additional manpower, equipments, mobility, communication facilities, veterinary care and compensation package for effective control of wildlife crimes and handling of man-animal conflict situation," Forest Minister Mian Altaf Ahmad said inaugurating a two-week course for forest officials at Dachigam National Park near here today.

Organised by department of Wildlife Protection, the course aims at capacity building of the front line staff of Forest and Wildlife Departments for effective wildlife management in the state. The course will be attended by Range officers, Forest Protection Force Inspectors, Foresters and Forest Guards.

Ahmad said it was necessary to organize training programmes for officials for effective wildlife management in the state.

"Our state is famous in the world for its unending varieties of landscape, lush green forests and rich flora and fauna making it a paradise on earth," the minister said.

Ahmad also said that the state was endowed with many rare and endangered species such as Hangul, Snow leopard, Chiru, Markhor, Musk Deer, Brown bear and Black necked crane which are pride of the state and warranted urgent conservation measures.