WWF-Chitral pays Rs10,000 to wolf-bitten family

CHITRAL, March 3: A family in the Melp village of upper Chitral, who was attacked by a wolf five days back and admitted to the DHQ hospital here, was given a relief package by WWF here Sunday. The field biologist of WWF’s Chitral chapter, Shafiqullah Khan, handed over Rs10,000 to the head of the family Mohammad Ayub at the press club here. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Khan praised the attitude and behaviour of the local people towards the wildlife who, he said, did not kill the wild animals abiding by the wildlife laws and keeping in view its importance. He said Chitral was the richest district in biodiversity and it carried a great leverage to create employment opportunities and thereby reduce poverty by proper its proper management. He said that WWF has contributed a great deal in the preservation of wild life in the area and has saved them from heading towards the point of extinction. Speaking on the occasion, a Chitral-based biodiversity specialist Ejaz Ahmad stressed the need for a comprehensive conflict management system to resolve the issues emanating from the interaction of wild life with the human settlement. He said that the people in the hamlets near the alpine pastures were prone to the frequent attacks of the wild beasts who only vivisected their cattle but also attacked the humans. Mr. Ejaz said that the compensation must be provided to those who lost their cattle heads to the wild beasts.–Zahiruddin]]>