The report, “2 leopards die of suspected poisoning near Bandipur” (July 13), is alarming especially as the villagers were in a belligerent mood and aggressive towards forest department officials. Man-animal conflicts are on the rise and the intolerance of people is only taking a turn for the worse. Forest department officials need to ensure that the ratio of herbivores is on the higher side in order to sustain the increase in the population of carnivores. Wildlife habitats must not be treated as grazing grounds. Poisoning wildlife is a serious offence and punishable under the Wildlife Act with rigorous imprisonment of three to seven years and a fine of not less than Rs.10,000. This case has to be pursued with all vigour by the authorities concerned in the interests of saving our wildlife.
B.M.T. Rajeev,Bengaluru
