SHILLONG: The gruesome photos and videos of villagers hunting wild animals on social media have angered many citizens in the state but there are some heartening instances of rescue too.
Several vulnerable and endangered species have been rescued in Meghalaya during the lockdown, according to data between April 2 and May 7 provided by the Khasi Hills Wildlife Division.
Three slow lorises were rescued in Mawlynnong and Dangar area. Slow lorises are a group of several species of nocturnal strepsirrhine primates that make up the genus Nycticebus. They are an endangered species.
The department also rescued four leopard cat cubs from Mawpat, Mawlyngam village and Shillong city and a civet cat from Mawlai. Four owlets were rescued in Shillong city and one serpent eagle in Shyllang.
During the lockdown period, the department has also booked four wildlife offences. On April 24, a case was filed against a few villagers for entering a protected area with firearms at Umtasor under Nongpoh Wildlife Range.
Cases were also filed against perpetrators for killing a sambar deer and a civet cat at Audit Point under Nongpoh Wildlife Range on May 3; killing a barking deer in Mawphlang and poaching a Himalayan black bear at Mawpyrthuh in Pynursla.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, YS Shullai, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said the most important factor for protection of wildlife is awareness and the department officials have to go to villages for the purpose.
“We are in the process of making rules in vernacular to disseminate information among the public as most of the people claim ignorance of the law,” he said.
Admitting that the department would have to ramp up its awareness programmes, Shullai said many people have come forward to rescue animals during the lockdown.
“The Wildlife Act is quite strong but now the department will have to focus on creating awareness.”
Another official of the Forest department said many a time people scare away animals when they come near them.
“They should not scare these animals as long as they do not cause harm to people. There are many animals which can survive near human habitation,” he added.
Citing an example, the official said when a kitten is touched by humans, the mother rejects the animal and in such a case, the little one is deprived of maternal care and dies. Animals should be rescued if it is injured and if it is moving around then there should be no human interference, he added.
