World Animal Protection objects to Forest Department to keep snow leopard in captivity
Alarmed over the decision of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department to send a captured snow leopard to Shimla zoo in violation of preserving and cherishing snow leopards in their natural habitat. In a statement issued by Gajender K Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection regarding capture of snow leopard captured in Himachal Pradesh, stated “World Animal Protection is alarmed to note the decision of the Himachal Pradesh Forest department to send a Snow Leopard that had been captured during an incident of human wildlife conflict to Shimla Zoo. Snow Leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of India and deserve the highest level of protection that means preserving and cherishing them in their natural habitat. As a species that is adapted to a niche mountain habitat, the Snow Leopard must be protected in their wild habitat, rather than be displayed as an object of curiosity in a zoo. Proper protocols for human wildlife conflict mitigation should require the rehabilitation and release of any individuals that come into human areas. World Animal Protection urges the forest department of Himachal Pradesh to make every effort to secure the release of this Snow Leopard to the wild, instead of condemning the creature to a lifetime of captivity. If the current Corona virus situation has taught us any lessons, one of them is that confinement is unpleasant. As a wild animal, the Snow Leopard is an apex predator that fulfils a vital ecological role in the habitat they live in and this ecological role cannot be duplicated in captivity. World Animal Protection strongly believes that wild animals belong in the wild and should remain there.”
The snow leopard is the State animal of Himachal Pradesh and the forest department in association with the Nature Conservation Foundation has been playing pivot role in conservation and protection of snow leopard and also assisting the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India in developing Project Snow Leopard. The central government has extended a grant of Rs 5.15 crore for this project in 2010-11 on wards for a period of four years.
World Animal Protection objects to Forest Department to keep snow leopard in captivity
The official of the forest department also revealed that the two agencies were also collaborating to generate scientific knowledge in Spiti Valley of the state which is also know as the country’s most important snow leopard habitat. The wildlife wing of the department and the Foundation have initiated efforts both in research and conservation of snow leopard in Spiti Valley. A detailed landscape and participatory management plan was prepared for entire Spiti Wildlife Division.
It is also admitted that there was a pressing need to understand conflicts and the role of individual snow leopard in it.
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