Fur trader in Kashmir surrenders 55 animal hides

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Fur trader in Kashmir surrenders 55 animal hides

From our ANI Correspondent

 

Srinagar, June 29: A fur trader in Kashmir has surrendered 55 animal hides to

wildlife wardens.

 

The haul, the largest till date, included skins of several endangered species

like the snow leopard, marble cat, wolf, pine martin, brown bear, and tigers.

 

The wildlife authorities said their efforts to save these animals have been

successful.

 

Rasheed Naqash, wildlife warden said the process was initiated following the

directives of the High Court that these inventory stocks of traders should now

be taken over by the department of wildlife protection.

 

" We are in the process of taking over all these stocks. This is one of the haul

from one of the furriers, " Rasheed added.

 

As far as species are considered, they are all highly endangered, endemic and

very rare species, Rasheed added.

 

More than 90 furriers in the state have surrendered to the authorities animal

hides, skins and furs worth millions of rupees.

 

According to the traders, many of them have already come forward by putting a

stop to the skinning activities. Zahoor Ahmed Malik, a fur trader said: " All

this is rare. The department might have the exact statistics. The killing is

banned as a result the skin sale also stopped. "

 

This is part of a ten-year long campaign by the authorities to save the

endangered wildlife of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Kashmir has traditionally been a huge market for the skins of rare animals with

artisans perfecting the craft of making garments for the rich.

 

 

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