Environmentalist Ram Babu ‘Junglee’ has objected to the State Government announcing a reward for Kamala Devi of Rudraprayag district who had recently killed a leopard that had attacked her. He said that while the government is implementing various schemes for wildlife protection, rewarding a person for killing a leopard reeks of double standards.
Addressing the media in Dehradun on Friday, the environmentalist famous for his ability to mimic various birds and wild animals said that it is wrong to reward a person for killing a leopard at a time when efforts by government and voluntary organisations are being undertaken for protecting wildlife. Factors like degradation of forests and decreasing prey base and food sources are forcing the wild animals to venture closer to human habitations which in turn is escalating the human-wildlife conflict. “The wild animals are liable to attack those venturing in their habitats. I have dedicated my life to the conservation of environment and wildlife. I am disappointed by the human interference in environment and the killing of wildlife. The government should do justice in stead of rewarding a person for killing a leopard. The inefficiency of the Forest Department is responsible for the human-wildlife conflict. I and other wildlife lovers will sit on protest if the department doesn’t take effective steps on this issue,” he said. It will be recalled that when attacked by a leopard recently, 54 year old Kamala Devi fought back and inflicted mortal wounds on the big cat with her sickle while also
sustaining injuries herself.