As the Wildlife Department of Kashmir has announced to dissuade the sale, purchase and possession of scheduled birds, stating that these birds are a key component of wildlife conservation under the Wild Life Protection Act,1972. This is beyond enforcement, it embraces the stewardship of a unique ecological legacy associated with Kashmir, and the conservation of avian diversity for spurious generations.
The bird species of Kashmir are phenomenal, these birds include several of the species that are under protection from the Wild Life Protection Act.
The birds from the magnificent Himalayan Monal, a sapphire damselfly, to the elegant Black-necked Crane and the equally splendid Kok-Lass Pheasant, absorb energy from the sun and contribute both directly to the fragile ecosystems of the area and cumulatively threaten the fragility of the delicate web of existence in the region.
The consequence of capturing these birds illegally, represents like grabbing these birds from wild bird populations that depend on these populations and thus exist to stabilize the natural, delicate balance that are the very forest ecosystems, wetlands and mountains Kashmir has always depended on.
One way the Wildlife Department alleviates wildlife crime is by reminding the public fundamentally clearly that unlawful possession or sale or trade of these birds is an offence that carries huge fines, an imprisonment term should be appreciated as reminder.
Unusual and rare birds are often taken for the illegal purpose of being sold or traded on the black market. Poachers respond to the demand for these birds by keeping them as pets, adorning their homes with them, or worse using them in some superstitious beliefs.
This enforcement exercise protects the habitats simultaneously with the public’s knowledge of the wildlife.
The habitants will have the information on the birds’ ecological value and thus will be the foundation for responsible wildlife tourism and coexistence instead of their exploitation.
As concerned and law-abiding citizens, it’s our role to give our full support to the Wildlife Department mainly by denouncing such illegal acts, informing the personnel of these events, and not taking part in the hunting and trading of the species that are on the Act list.
Kashmir is beautiful, not only for its scenic beauty but also for the living things that give it the colour of existence. Let me join hands to make sure that these birds’ tunes will be the one to be heard in the valley of Kashmir for the upcoming generations.
