Endangered species like musk deer, snow leopard, which migrate to mid-Himalayan regions of Pithoragarh and other parts of hill State to protect themselves from freezing cold coupled with intermittent snowfall during winter, have only risked their lives as the poachers have reportedly set meadows of these areas on fire to kill these animals.

The wildlife experts maintained that since the said species like musk deer is very rarely seen and difficult to be targeted, the poachers try to encircle them by setting the meadows on fire from all side.

The situation only becomes tougher for these endangered species when the villagers of these areas, who are dependent on forests for cattle fodder also set their grassland/meadows for better growth of grass in the next season.

We can understand the problems of villagers who are heavily dependent on the forests in these mid-Himalayan region for fodder and other livelihood resources, said concerned forest department sources.

Though no case of poaching has come to light, keeping in view the concerns of the wildlife, we have urged the villagers to be in touch with the respective forest officials whenever they do it, so that necessary action could be taken to avoid any untoward incident, the forest official added.

However, keeping in view these concerns, the State forest department has already launched anti-poaching drive in mid-Himalayan regions as the poachers have reportedly become active in these areas in search of endangered species like musk deer.

Apart from our regular forest personnel we have also hired former Army men to strengthen our anti-poaching drive, said Manoj Singh Semia, Munsyari SDO while talking to The Pioneer.

He further informed that thus the entire anti-poaching network that we have has been alerted and the drive would continue till February, when the weather condition become a bit normal.

So with increasing cases of smuggling of wildlife animals in recent years in the international market as has been reported, threats have only loomed large on these species of late.

Thus the forest department has been continuously launching anti-poaching campaign in mid-Himalayan regions of entire Himalayan belt of border districts Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Uttarkashi to name during the winter when it become extremely tougher for these endangered species to stay in their permanent habitats of upper Himalayan regions, added the sources.