Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Wildlife Research Conservation Foundation (WRCF) and Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) have launched a training session for frontline forest and wildlife staff in Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on snow leopard conservation. Supported by the Forest Department and Department of Wildlife Protection, J&K, this training aims to enhance the skills of staff from Bandipora and Ganderbal districts. The first phase began today in Chitternar, Bandipora, with the second phase scheduled for August in Ganderbal.
The program was inaugurated yesterday at Dachigam National Park by Sh. Pradeepchandra Wahule, Regional Wildlife Warden Kashmir, and attended by various wildlife and forest officials. Seventy-one students from local colleges participated, interacting with researchers and learning about regional biodiversity.
An interim report on Project Snow Leopard was also released, revealing the detection of 11 individual snow leopards and estimating a population of around 20 in the study area. The project deployed 166 camera-traps across Kashmir and Jammu.
Dr. Munib Khanyari from NCF emphasized the collaborative effort behind the project, including contributions from local wildlife officials and field teams from Himachal Pradesh.
Dr. Mehreen Khaleel, co-founder of WRCF, highlighted the importance of such training programs for the success of conservation efforts.
