In a new move towards bolstering wildlife surveillance and solidifying wildlife conservation further, the Punjab Wildlife Department has announced plans to implant more camera traps throughout the state's forests. The program intends to reduce human-wildlife conflicts and seeks to improve monitoring of rare and elusive animals, especially leopards.
The use of camera traps in Punjab is part of a larger movement to incorporate technology into the preservation of animals. By providing a non-intrusive monitoring method, these gadgets lessen the need for people to be physically present in delicate environments. In addition to tracking animal numbers, the information gathered via cameras helps identify possible dangers and locations that need urgent attention.
Leopards are difficult to monitor since they are elusive and frequently nocturnal. Better information about their numbers, movement patterns, and preferred habitats should result from the increased use of camera traps. This information is essential for creating conservation plans that work towards ensuring animal, as well as community, safety.
The agency has started training programs for local youngsters in regions close to wildlife habitats. Through education and participation in conservation initiatives, these programs hope to instill a sense of stewardship and raise awareness of the value of protecting biodiversity.
Previous installations have worked successfully; they serve as the foundation for the department's decision to extend its camera trap network. These tools perform crucially in taking pictures and films of different kinds of wildlife that then make for great material for conservationists to work around. A greater number of video traps is being planned to be implanted strategically in high-wildlife activity areas throughout the new phase.
A proactive approach to conservation is demonstrated by the Punjab Wildlife Department's dedication to growing its network of video traps. The agency wants to develop a sustainable wildlife management strategy that can be used as a template for other areas by utilising technology and community engagement.
(With information from various external sources.)
