DIPR
Imphal, Nov. 30,
Forest and Environment Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar accompanied by the officials and staffs of the Forest and Wildlife of the department today conducted a spot inspection near the banks of Imphal river at the Ningomthong Kitna Panung, Imphal East. The inspection comes after a woman, identified as Mutum Inakhunbi reportedly saw two unidentified animals at the residential area at around 3.30 pm yesterday.
Addressing the media persons, Minister Th. Shyamkumar said small animals from the mountains hunting for food might have arrived in areas near the Imphal river banks which are thickly covered with bushes. He informed that the experts from the Wildlife Institute of India will be arriving tomorrow following which the truth can be ascertained. He also stated that the mysterious killing is first of its kind for the State.
The Minister also said that the Forest and Wildlife teams are doing their job following the rules and regulations of the Forest Act and the department will take up every required action. The Minister also appealed to the public to be vigilant about false information spread in the social media which will create fear among the masses.
He also advised the locals to take up social service to keep the river banks clean. He however cautioned that they should not burn the bushes as it can harm other living creatures around the area. He again appealed to the public to save the environment and wildlife and stop killing animals out of suspicion.
Th. Mohendra Pratap Singh, Conservator of Forests, Central Circle said that the Forest Department is taking necessary steps to find out the truth about the suspected animal which is responsible behind the killings of the domestic livestock. Stating that the arrival of three experts from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun will expedite the investigation, he said traps are set up at foothills of the mountains and other locations to catch the predator apart from investigations at the Manipur Zoological Garden.
Stating that the suspected animal is attacking only the small domestic livestock, he said it does not pose a threat to the humans. He further said it will be wrong to target and kill animals out of suspicion. He appealed the public to maintain calm and peace so that the department officials can find out the truth at the earliest.
It is worth mentioning here that already two experts, Dr M. Vikramjit Sharma and Dr N. Sharmila from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun are helping the Forest and Environment Department officials in the investigation. Both the experts said that people’s support is needed as they are investigating the matter and appealed to stop killings of wildlife animals.
The spot inspection was also attended by Kereilhouvi Angami, PCCF and HoFF, Shri DJN Anand, PCCF (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Anurag Bajpai, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), RK Amarjit Singh, DFO, Central Forest Division among others.
