Every living organism is a creature of nature. On this earth, there are giant to microscopic living organisms like elephants, lions, tigers, giant snakes, bacteria, viruses, etc. Every living creature has a role in different natural phenomena, like food chains and food webs. All the wild animals, like leopards, tigers, bears, monkeys, etc., live in forest areas in the upper reaches of the valley. As we know, forests cater to all the wild animals and take part in the food chain, etc., so the forests were considered a horrible place where no one could go alone. These days’ forests are looking like barren lands due to human interference. It is all because of human greed that the vicious wild animals are wandering in villages where they are causing deaths.

A couple of weeks ago, leopards mauled a minor girl in the Samsan area of Khansahib Budgam. After this vicious incident, the wildlife department got active in the area and installed cages at different spots, but unfortunately, they did not have any success catching the predator leopard. On March 28, one more incident happened in the Harwaani area of Khansahib, where a 6-year-old girl, Toiba Mushtaq, was mauled to death by a leopard, and it was quite heartbreaking for all of us. I wish the Almighty would bear the loss for the bereaved family.
Khansahib is a tehsil in the district of Budgam, about 40 km away from Srinagar. The adjoining areas in Khansahib are remote and are in nearby forests. The villages are Mujpathri, Yarikah, Kralapthir, Raiyar-ich, Arizal, Khaarian, Zoogu, Haarwani, Samsan, etc. The mentioned villages are predator-prone and need the special attention of the wildlife department. Police station, Khansahib.
Spotting a leopard or bear in the area is common for the residents of the upper belt. Unfortunately, we have lost two lives in the current month. The concerned department should take the matter seriously and take frequent action.
Most people are complaining about why such predators are not being fired to death. We must have knowledge that such animals are endangered species in the country, so government officials are preserving or protecting them in wildlife sanctuaries in different locations.

How can we Save Lives?

Concerned wildlife departments can share their contacts at central public places on hoarding and can hold public awareness programs in prone areas. The Wildlife Department can alert the general public after finding predators in any area through any agency. The Wild Life Department should install cages at different locations in all such areas. All efforts should be made to save lives.

Email:---------------------sahilanzoor0401@gmail.com