Conservation Confusion and PUCHIN DUMPOKHTA (the Pot-roasted Spicy Wild Duck)
Sohail Iqbal
Pluck the feathers of a wild duck, smoke it on a charcoal
fire so that all the bits of fluff are burnt away. Roast it in a spicy gravy –
and we Kashmiris would love it – Batte kehow Mussalman – Muslims and Pandits
alike.
Let’s revive wildfowling!
Let us face the fact that poaching of wildfowl is rampant in
the Valley, and I see no reason as to why sportsmen should not indulge in it,
when permission to sports shooting has been suspended needlessly and
thoughtlessly. I am thankful to my friend Javid Mir [ not the leader variety] to have sent me a
brace of mallards this past December , while on his poaching mission outside
one of the wetland reserves.
As is true of our demeanour in various other aspects - we
simply shut the door to the affairs we cannot manage. The same principle has
been applied to our shooting industry. People talk about various tourist
attractions of the valley, breathtaking landscape, lakes, rivers, mountains,
skiing, trekking, royal golf courses, none speaks about the need to revive our
shooting industry.
If one desires to go for wildfowling in Europe or America , or to
some other shooting destination, one pays through the nose, and in all
probability, the quality of shoot remains far inferior to the past experiences
of the valley. I am not stating that solely from my perspective , rather the
world's most prestigious shooting magazine 'Shooting Times' of the UK supports my
view. The magazine carried a cover story on Hokarsar in late eighties with a
bold caption :
"Hokarsar, the Best Duck Shooting in the
World".
Even Salim Ali, the world renowned ornithologist once said:
"Kashmir is a heaven on earth for
migratory birds". Perhaps he was reflecting on the wetland reserves of the
valley. Hokarsar Wetland Game Reserve is ( or perhaps was ) a
picturesque expanse of marshy land - a naturalists’ dream. It is situated on
the southern side of Srinagar-Varmul road, about ten kilometers from the city
centre. It is fed by Dudhganga, whose waters gather within the peripheral ghat
on the north and partly on western side of the reserve. The south and eastern ends
of the reserve are open for paddy cultivation. The reserve is studded with a
wild confusion of willows and poplars, and some grand chinar trees along it’s
periphery. The snow-capped Gulmarg range often mirrors itself in the waters of
the lake, perhaps to reassure itself of it’s eternal Snow White splendour. The
reserve boasts of a prolific growth of auburn reed beds and sedges, interlaced
with numerous weeds, which provide nesting grounds for our migratory visitors
between late autumn and early spring.
The wildlife authorities stopped issuing permits for
wildfowl shooting beginning 1990 due to reasons known to everyone. However, in
the latter half of 1990 , Dr.Farooq Abdullah tried reviving this industry in
his maiden outing to Hokarsar, but he came under heavy condemnation from Maneka Gandhi .
If the word Conservation has been misinterpreted, it has to
be the subcontinent. I am not sure what authority does Maneka Gandhi hold on
wildfowling in the valley so as to feel objectionable to regulated shooting.
The result is that since activities within our shooting reserves have ceased,
so have the habitats While watching a
documentary produced by NDTV showcasing wetland reserves of the valley some
months ago, I was absolutely shocked and grief stricken to have watched the
dilapidating condition of the Hygam reserve. A breathtaking expanse of water
and reeds transformed into a lurid ditch.
Wetlands act as kidneys to
the landscape. In essence, they act as a transition zone between the
highlands and the deep-water aquatic systems.
The water level in wetlands varies according to the seasons; being low
in summer, and high during winter months. Many processes take place in
wetlands, which can have a global impact; they can affect the export of organic
materials or serve as a sink for inorganic nutrients. By virtue of their
natural locale, which I term, ‘a bit of fish and a bit of fowl’, they are rich
in ‘bio-diversity’. The main reason being that they borrow species from both
aquatic and terrestrial bodies.
Wetlands also provide habitats to numerous species of flora
and fauna. Being rich in bio-diversity, they are also beneficial to humans; as
we rely on these ecosystems for commercial and sport fishing, hunting and
recreational uses. Wetland acts as a sponge, and absorb great amounts of water.
In an ecological context, they are quite useful as they cleanse polluted
waters, prevent floods, and recharge groundwater aquifers.
Sporting inactivity, illegal encroachment, paddy
cultivation, grazing and conversion of large areas of the reserve area for
fuel-wood plantation have also adversely affected the purpose of natural
wetlands.
In the context of wildfowl shooting in the valley, it might
seem paradoxical to assert that controlled and regulated shooting helps
bio-diversity. Shooting provides the incentive for the retention and
enhancement of many important habitats. The shooting community develops an
extensive knowledge of countryside management, and close links with the
agricultural community. And, in the process, habitat and species flourish where
they are important to people. The social and economic aspects of sporting
shooting benefit rural areas and the credibility of biodiversity conservation.
Besides, balance of Nature is another important dimension
that may justify regulated shooting. Need I introduce the concept of 'culling'-
an unavoidable euthanasia carried out on animals to keep certain species to
manageable limits: elks are culled to avoid numerous traffic accidents in
Scandinavia; a particular species of doves are culled in America, and
numerous other wildfowl are sometimes culled to prevent outbreak of avian
cholera. However, no one suggests such a recipe for Hangul or similar species
who are critically endangered.
In our case , wildfowl shooting shall complement the economy
of the state. We have vast funds of flora & fauna, only an effective
management is needed to protect the principle of 'Sustainable Use'.
On scientific grounds, the greatest threat to the 'flora and
fauna' should be perceived from the 'Habitat Loss ', and not necessarily from
some reduction in its constituents. Given the appropriate habitat, life-cycle
not only sustains itself ,but proliferates as well. Conservation does not mean
inertia or accumulation; it means effective generation and a balanced
expending.
I must admit that I am not too sure in respect to the
legislation that governs the ban on wildfowl shooting within our homeland, or
if indeed there is one. In any case, it would be a great pleasure if our young
CM takes a fresh look at the subject and revives regulated wildfowl shooting
all in accordance with the ethics associated with it. In case regulations
governing the ban are local, the job of effecting revocation might not be too
difficult , however if legislations are Delhi
based, he can plead the case from an environmental, scientific , social and
economic perspective.
Someone has rightly said : "The extreme in the
environmental movement should not shut down economies, no one should be allowed
to shut down the lives of people by going to the extreme in environment".
Tail piece:
In the next five years, the population of stray dogs shall
outnumber the inhabitants of Srinagar
– 2 million dogs as against 1.5 million people. Maneka jee, are you listening
– I hope I am not barking up the wrong
tree.
Sohail Iqbal is an Engineer and freelance writer based in UAE.