Forest department yet to identify livestock killer

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, December 4, 2018: The Manipur forest department has said it would take at least 2-3 days to identify the predator species that has been killing livestock in Manipur.

Chief conservator of forest (Wildlife), Manipur, Anurag Vajpai today told reporters at forest department office in Imphal that so far 10 cameras have been installed at different locations out of 24 sensitive locations. More will be installed soon, he added.

Cameras have been installed at Bashikhong, Saombung, Ragailong Sapormeina, Kakching, etc, and one animal was found killed by a wild animal at Saombung, he added.

Anurag said, as per the evidences the predators could of dog family.

Two forensic experts from Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun have started their works soon after their arrival on Sunday.

Anurag said so far since November 25 there have been reports of 38 cases in valley districts in which 140 birds and animals were killed. Out of which two incidents have been reported from Imphal valley in which seven livestock including rabbits were found killed.

We also received eight calls related to sighting of animals, he added.

Several department phone numbers of the entire districts have been provided to receive complaints from the people of sighting of the predators or incidents of killing animals.

Anurag said so far 60 calls have been received since December 1. The number of calls per day declined which shows that we are successful in achieving something, he added.

The forest department thanked “People for Animals Manipur” and “Yening Animal Foundation” for their cooperation in the forest department mission to find out the certainty.