India - Find Other Humane Methods to Control Leopard Population & Attacks

  • by: Sue Lee
  • recipient: Governments of Punjab, India along with Powat village near Samrala on the Sirhind canal

Please sign and share this petition in an effort to urge India to find other methods in controlling the leopard population rather than drugging and killing them. Currently, the department of forests and wildlife of Punjab resorts to trapping leopards and locking them up in zoos rather than allowing them to live in their own natural habitat.

Several instances have come to light in Punjab along with Powat village near Samrala on the Sirhind canal where leopards have been trapped and sedated, sent to zoos rather than allowing them to live in their own natural habitat. Leopards have been blamed for various attacks on humans, causing a panic among villagers, only to find that it was not leopard attacks at all but other larger jungle cats. Prodding these animals, trapping them and jailing them in Chhatbir zoo, which is a violation of entrapping these animals in this central zoo. Media persons state that not a single human has been killed by a leopard in Punjab, whereas snakes and rabid dogs routinely kill dozens every year.

Leopards are not a problem in the area; yet they seem to be targeted when resorting to poaching wild boar and sambar in the jungles. However, because the leopards may be present, the wildlife department is pressured to intervene and remove them when they are not causing any harm other than to protect themselves from poachers and their bull terrier dogs. The villagers then raise complaints and cry to the wildlife department. Officials stated that "If a leopard has not attacked a human deliberately, the guidelines say avoid setting traps. If the leopard is in an open area surrounded by people, all attempts should be made to keep the crowd from approaching near and the leopard be allowed to escape under darkness."

Often times, the leopard is mistakenly blamed for attacks and you can read the full story of accusations and issues at http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/attacks-leopard/article1-1316912.aspx. If there is an issue with leopard attacks, we are trying to encourage India to resort to more humane methods of removing them from village areas of concern rather than drugging, trapping and killing them. These animals too deserve to live in their own natural habitats and you can help to protect them by signing and sharing this petition worldwide in their name.




Governments of Punjab, India along with Powat village near Samrala on the Sirhind canal - We are urging you and the wildlife federation in your country to find better, more humane methods of controlling leopards and possible leopard attacks as stated by villagers rather than drugging the cats, trapping and locking them up illegally in zoos, often times with these methods leading to the animals' deaths. These animals deserve to live their lives in their natural habitats without danger or perils from villagers and others threatening them and blaming them for doing what they do as a natural way of life. Save these animals and care for them with more humane methods when they seem to infringe on the life of villagers entering their own habitat.

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