Implement Better Rules, Laws & Enforcement For Villagers Handling Wildlife Predators
- by: Sue Lee
- recipient: India's Ministry of Environment and Forests
Authorities in the area of Purulia Village in India discovered a brutal attack on a leopard when the villagers took things into their own hands. The animal was lurking about, putting a scare into the locals who then killed and mutilated it before police and the forestry department could intervene. The actions of the people was cruel and unnecessary.
The attack on the animal lasted about 90 minutes while it was being killed, tortured and mutilated. The leopard appeared to fight for its life but lost, without any intervention from police or other authorities. The animal suffered greatly.
Our attempts through this petition is to urge India's Ministry of Environment and Forests to provide clear guidance to villagers and law enforcement on non-lethal deterrence of leopards and other predators. This animal did not have to meet such an awful end if people knew how to work with authorities for their betterment and that of the animals involved. Please help us in our efforts so that the villagers, locals and law enforcement can be educated on better methods to handle these animals by signing and sharing this petition.
India's Ministry of Environment and Forests – We are asking that you take some serious legal steps to ensure that something like this torturous, needless death of a leopard or other wild animals in Purulia and other India villages. To keep such animals away from local areas where people live, you might want to consider creating some barriers like fencing and fladry or roping off so the animals cannot invade villages. However, a more useful method may be education; ensuring that you can provide clear guidance to villagers and law enforcement on non-lethal deterrence of leopards and other predators. Do what you can and must to protect your people as well as the animals who deserve to live in their natural habitats.
