Hunting of Neel Gai(Pb. will issue permits)

[Guest guest]

 

The reported

notification issued by Punjab Govt. to order Shooting

of “Neel Gai” or Blue Bulls in the name of saving crops is really

shocking and unfortunate.

Blue Bulls are numbering 3000-4000 in state. These are protected

under schedule IV of Wildlife

Protection Act 1972.this population is can not be termed as high

one rarely see these creatures

in remote forests. These are shy creatures and come out of forests

only due to lack of availability

of sufficient quantity of food and water, due to human aggression

and encroachment into their

habitat. It is worth mentioning that due to massive encroachments

into forest land &

extensive cultivation their habitat has divindled. Blue bull had

vanished from southern India due

to bad management of forests and wildlife. An animal lover of Nepal

has informed me that this

animal has been included into Red data Book in that country.

 

To save them from Poaching the Govt.

should start and subsidise

crop insurance policies for farmers. Similarly the Farmers should be

encouraged/assisted to

put up fences around their fields or Community Gaurding of Crops can be

encouraged. The

millets and grasses should be sown and plenty of water may be provided inside

the Forests,

so that these creatures may not be forced to come out of their natural habitat.

Better forest

and wildlife management should be ensured, so that the wild animals may remain

into their

habitat and their habitat is not encroached upon. Punjab has lowest forest

cover as well

as number of wildlife.

 

The Wildlife Department of state,

which is mainly handled by forest

officials, is facing acute shortage of qualified personnel and equipment to keep

a check on

poachers, which are usually high connected and well equipped in every aspect

i.e. Weapons,

Vehicles and communication. The Officials in Districts are not much concerned

by the

plight of wildlife. The shooting orders of one or another species

will give a free access

to other protected wildlife. The privacy and habitat of animals

like Deer, Black buck,

Sambhars, Cheetal and Birds etc. will be disturbed. The Animals can be declared

vermin and

shooting orders can be given in rarest situation ,if all the resorts to nab

them or rehabilitate

them fails.Before issuing orders the govt. should have effectively removed the

encroached

teritory of Forests which is the home of these Voiceless and Voteless

Creatures.Removal of

grass/fodder from forests should be banned after all it is the food for

wildlife which is taken illegally or

legally(?) . Under these circumstances it is not a saner solution to issue

hunting orders.

 

 

(Dr.Sandeep K.Jain)

Former Member, Animal Welfare Board of India,

(Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India)

&

Coordinator, People For Animals Punjab.