Prakash Javadekar releases ‘Living With
Leopards’ leaflet containing practical ways to reduce man-animal conflict in
the vicinity of Sanjay Gandhi National Park Area.
On the World Environment Day today, the
Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Mr. Prakash
Javadekar has highlighted the need for increasing the green cover and
protecting wildlife.
“Urban forestry is the new thrust area
and we will be taking up massive tree plantation drive in as many as 200 cities
and towns across the country” said Mr. Javadekar at a commemorative function
organized at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali, Mumbai. The
Environment Ministry will launch the ‘Urban Forestry Scheme’ in Pune, where
6000 saplings will be planted to create an ‘urban jungle’ on about 80 acres of
land.
Mr. Javadekar observed that in most of
our cities there are gardens and parks but no forests. “There are many
cities where the forest department has its land but there are no forest on it
or are degraded. In these places through people’s participation, we will
establish urban forestry” he added. Stressing that the green
mission can succeed only through active people’s participation, the Environment
Minister urged the citizens to plant trees, take a selfie and share photographs
on ‘
wedselfie.nic.in’.
Drawing attention to this year’s theme
of the World Environment Day – “Go Wild For Life”, Mr. Javadekar underlined
government’s resolve for protection of wild-life. He said the Government began
this year’s World Environment Day celebrations by launching Asia’s first
Vulture Re-introduction Programme at Pinjore in Haryana. Mr. Javadekar said,
vultures – the true Swachch Bharat volunteers – had become endangered since
1990, after eating carcasses of cattle which were injected with Diclofenac – a
pain killer drug. “We had more than 4 crore vultures in the country, now not
even 4 lakh are left” he said.
Speaking about wildlife protection, Mr
Javadekar asserted that trade in wildlife products should be completely
stopped. He said the Government has also initiated proactive measures for
protection of wildlife and informed that ‘shoot at sight’ orders given to armed
guards at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam had resulted in the death of 24
poachers. He appealed to the people not to buy any product made from wild
animal body parts. “If there is no market for the products, poaching will
end automatically” he remarked. The Minister, later symbolically burnt
the confiscated wildlife products in the open, to send a message to end the
wildlife trafficking.
Mr. Javadekar said with better
understanding and awareness, man and wildlife can live in harmony. He said most
of tribals, who live on the edges of forests, live in harmony with
nature.
Living With The Leopards
On this occasion the Environment
Minister released a leaflet “Living With The Leopards” that lists
out practical tips to minimize danger to ourselves. The leaflet is of
utmost utility for the residents of North Mumbai suburbs adjacent to the Sanjay
Gandhi National Park area, where incidents of leopard entering housing colonies
are frequently reported.
Practical Ways to Live With Leopards and Minimize
Danger to Ourselves
- Recognize that
leopards are the residents of the area and mere sighting does not translate
into danger.
- Leopards do not
recognize our kind of boundaries, forest areas and housing colonies.
- Ensure that
children are supervised by adults, especially after dark
- Do not move about alone after dark. If
necessary, play music on your mobile phones to allow leopards to realize that
there are humans around. Leopards are sensitive enough to avoid contact
with humans and do their best to avoid us.
- If a leopard is
sighted, give it right of way and allow it to move off peacefully.
- If a leopard is
sighted, do not form a crowd around it. Mob behavior will cause the
animal to panic and possibly harm someone in its effort to escape.
- Ensure effective
garbage disposal and keep the dogs indoors.
- The Forest
Department is the sole authority to deal with any leopard related incident.
Promptly call the control room
PIB Mum | BG/IJ (MD)
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