Down To Earth brings you the top happenings in the world of global ecology
New Mexico reauthorises trapping of foxes, bobcats and other animals
The New Mexico Game Commission on January 17, 2020, approved the trapping of bobcats, foxes and other wildlife throughout most of the US state despite protests by wildlife lovers, a media report said.
According to the decision, the use of ‘leghold traps’, ‘body-crushing traps’ and ‘strangulation snares’ has been reauthorised. These traps have caused the maiming or death of many species of wildlife, domestic animals, pets and have also injured humans.
The trapping of animals on public lands in New Mexico is legal despite efforts last year to prohibit it by legislation.
Among those affected by the traps are critically endangered Mexican wolves, a subspecies of grey wolf once native to northern Mexico and the US Southwest.
Snow spells forcing wild animals in Kashmir to venture into human habitations
Frequent snowfall since November 7, 2019, have forced wild animals to venture near human habitations in the Kashmir Valley, a media report has said.
According to a document of the Kashmir Wildlife Department, at least 18 Himalayan Black Bears have had to be driven back after getting near human settlements in the last two months. Three were captured and released in Shopian and Pulwama districts of South Kashmir.
At the same time, three leopards have been driven back with one having been captured and released. Porcupines too have been captured and released back into the wild.
The forest department has also been keeping food consisting mostly of vegetable for herbivores like Hangul and Himalayan Grey Langur to feed on within Dachigam National Park, the report said.
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