SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to have a wildlife crime control unit with headquarters in Shimla. The unit will be equipped with mobility provision and linkages with sensitive zones in Kinnaur, Kullu, Dharamshala and Chamba districts with a view to contain poaching.
This decision was taken during a meeting of the state board for wild life chaired by chief ministerVirbhadra Singh in Shimla on Friday.
The identified zones would be manned by a superintendent of police-level officer along with a divisional forest officer (DFO) on deputation, range officers, deputy rangers and forest guards along with lower rank police officials.
Besides, 45 trap cameras had been installed in the Great Himalayan National Park (a UNESCO world heritage site in the Tirthan Valley of Kullu district) at sensitive and vulnerable locations, besides conducting extensive poaching patrolling exercises.
Virbhadra said besides necessary measures, the general public and panchayats would also to be motivated through awareness and meetings. He said that nature had bestowed Himachal Pradesh with rich flora and fauna which included some rarest species in the world and it was the duty of every citizen to protect the rich bio-diversity of the state.
He added that a complete ban on green felling was imposed in mid 80's by his government and a complete ban on hunting of wild animals was also imposed that should be followed strictly.
Virbhadra also expressed concern regarding Butterfly Park in the state that was proposed to be set up at Simbalwara near Paonta Sahib. He showed concern over the declining population of house sparrows and directed to formulate conservation strategies for the long-term survival of the species. He applauded the efforts of the wild life wing for breeding the Western Tragopan successfully at Sarahan.
It was informed in the meeting that the Western Tragopan captive population was too small as yet and efforts were on to build up a viable captive population and release of Western Tragopan in natural habitats would be planned later as for any release population size has to be large enough to augment releases.
"I am happy to learn that Rs 5.15 crore snow leopard conservation project was being implemented and steps should be taken for radio collaring of snow leopards soon so that their exact population could be assessed," Virbhadra Singh said.
He said it was a matter of pride that steps taken for conservation of vulture population has started bearing results. "I am happy to learn that more than 800 vulture chicks have been fledged," he added. He said that undercover surveys were also being done in the State to ensure that the Diclofenac medicine, which was the main cause of death of vultures was not being sold anywhere.
He said that only such officers should be deputed in the Wild Life wing of the State Government who have enough experience and expert in dealing and understanding the nature of wild life, their habitats and better understands the flaura and fauna of the region .
Principal chief conservator of forests Jasjeet Singh Walia said the wild life wing was mulling setting up of a snake park at Gopalpur, an interpretation center at Sarahan in Rampur and was also going to equip the department with tranquilizer guns, improved cages and ultra-sound machines.
State forest minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri said a pair of tigers were being brought to Renuka zoo from Karnataka along with a pair of lions for Gopalpur zoo.
