Working swiftly on the Snow Leopard Project approved by the Ministry for Forest and Wildlife, the Department of Wildlife Protection has sent an annual plan of operation to the ministry.

The ministry is expected to approve the plan soon as the plan is meant for the current financial year. The works proposal for 2008-09 for the Wildlife Division, Leh, has been estimated at Rs 2.42 crore.

The project includes 25 nature interpretation centre-cum-office building at Leh, purchase of vehicles, SLR still cameras, high definition video camera, camera tripods, cranes, thermal imaging device, purchase of high altitude equipment, transportation cages, communication equipment like wireless/walky-talky, printing of publicity material, eco-cafes, facility of training and requirement of additional staff.

The Wildlife Department is currently looking for appropriate landscape and is all set to develop good intelligence network which involves local participation in wildlife protection through the Community Protection Forces. AK Shrivastva, chief wildlife warden of the state, said, “We will support alternative generation activities for the community so that they can support us in our drive to protect snow leopard. Local GREF and military establishment will be engaged in self-regulation regarding illegal hunting. Labour camps in the wildlife areas will also be engaged to curb poaching. We are also formulating alpine pasture/rangeland management strategies to focus research and experimental studies in order to understand pastoral production, optimal stocking densities and pasture improvement.”

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Research on wildlife will also gain momentum after the plan gets approved. “The department will also support scientifically well-designed research projects by reputed governmental and non-governmental research institutions. Under staff welfare and financial strategies economic and other service benefits will be extended to staff working in the project areas. We will prefer young and committed staff to be posted in the high altitude areas,” said Shrivastva.

According to him, 60 per cent of the country’s snow leopard population is found in the state and its conservation would require active involvement of the local communities.