‘Shooting leopard dead not a solution’

HUBBALLI: Forest minister BS Anand Singh’s reported statement planning to issue shoot- at-sight order to kill a leopard that mauled a a teenager to death in Gangavathi taluk on Friday,has not gone down well with animal rights activists. The big cat has been the cause of panic in several villages in Ballari and Koppal areas.
A N Yellappa Reddy, an environmentalist and retired IFS officer, said the forest department has to protect forests and animals.“Wild animals come out in search of food and water, when its core area is encroached by man.The state has many experts inside and outside the forest department and it should seek their help to end the menace of leopards rather than taking a decision to kill it,” he added.
Pompayya Malemath, an environmentalist in Kamalapur, said, “with deer and black bucks numbers drastically coming down in Hampi forest areas, leopards are increasingly straying into human habitat in search of food. Using cages to trap them is damaging their claws and jaws which, in turn, affect their hunting skills. These leopards then target domestic animals and humans.”
Harshavardhan Sheelavant, planning head, Nature Research Centre, Dharwad, said equipping forest watchers and guards with scientific equipment like drone cameras, radio collars, electric fencing, digital beat system will resolve the man-animal conflict to some extent.
A senior forest official, on anonymity, said that there is a protocol framed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. “As per the SOPs, capturing, tranquilising or hunting down a tigers is done only when they turn man-eaters after repeated incidents. As a last resort, it can be shot. These SOPs are applicable for leopard also. But capture it before thinking of shooting it,” he added.
Minister Anand Singh was not available for comment.