The Forest Department has become vigilant to prevent the hunting of owls during Diwali. Starting Sunday, special vigils will be maintained for the owls at Dehradun Zoo. Four forest guards will remain awake around the zoo throughout the night, while forest guards will patrol the entire district at night. The Malsi Zoo, located on the Mussoorie-Dehradun Road, houses a total of 10 owls of three different species. Zoo Deputy Ranger Vinod Lingwal stated that owls are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. People have been urged to abandon superstitions about hunting them. He added that the department is actively involved in protecting owls, especially during Diwali, as some people hunt them due to superstition, which is completely wrong. Burning of firecrackers near the zoo and forest area Keeping wildlife safety in mind, there is a ban on burning firecrackers near the zoo and forest area. Deputy Ranger Vinod Lingwal stated that there is a complete ban on burning firecrackers within a 100-meter radius of the zoo. The loud noise and light of firecrackers create fear and distress among wildlife. Birds may flee their nests in fear and become disoriented in the dark, while other wildlife also face problems. The zoo administration has appealed to residents living nearby to refrain from lighting upward-propelling firecrackers, such as rockets and skylights, as this poses a fire hazard. Hunt for Help Campaign for Owls A Hunt for Help campaign has been launched in the Lachhiwala Range to protect owls. Forest Range Officer Medhavi Kirti stated that the primary objective of the campaign is to prevent illegal hunting and trade of owls due to superstition. The campaign also aims to raise awareness about the ecological importance of owls. She added that owls are an important part of our environment. They control the population of pests like rodents. Anyone who sees an injured owl should refrain from harming it and immediately report it to the department. Present on the occasion were Shailendra Rawat, Rajat Kumar, Ankit Singh, Vijay Thapliyal, Seema Mishra, Nutan, Abhishek, and others. The department is monitoring poaching and smuggling networks. Drone surveillance will be conducted. Anyone caught hunting wildlife will face strict legal action. Night patrols have also been increased.
