TURA: The gruesome killing of two young and endangered clouded leopard cubs for its meat which was put up on social media by a Garo youth has shocked bloggers and other online users with condemnation and demands for punishment of the guilty behind the killing and the post.
A Facebook blogger under the name S Tigite Sangma had put up a post displaying the carcass of the two endangered clouded leopard cubs which were skinned in preparation for its consumption in a village somewhere in Garo Hills.
The post was criticised by other online users and the picture and details including a video of the carcass were quickly forwarded to authorities, including wildlife activists, demanding action prompting J Tigite Sangma to hurriedly remove the post within hours of its online screening.
The clouded peopard Neofelis Nebulosa is the state animal of Meghalaya and highly endangered due to illegal hunting and loss of habitat. According to wildlife experts, the adult male and female venture out of their forest hideouts to mate during the months of December to March. According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the Clouded Leopard is considered highly vulnerable with less than 10,000 of them surviving in the wild due to hunting by human beings. They are found primarily in the Himalayan region and in India’s North east region including Meghalaya.
A group of student and social organisation members from Garo Hills have alerted the state forest department and also the Garo Hills police to investigate and bring to book those behind the killing of the two endangered animals. It remains to be seen as to what steps will be taken by the Wildlife wing of the State Forest Department which is supposed to be the guardians ensuring the protection of the endangered animal species in the little forest cover left in Garo Hills.
