Target: Ranjan Kumar Mishra, Head of Forest Force and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttarakhand, India.
Goal: Investigate and prosecute any officials or individuals who kill, maim, or cruelly sterilize wildlife under new human-wildlife conflict measures, and mandate humane tools like solar fencing, sensor alerts, and nonlethal response protocols.
Human-wildlife conflict has surged, and authorities are rolling out intensified crackdowns and equipment deployments. Recent directives include boosting field manpower, issuing fox lights and cages, and tightening enforcement around conflict corridors. The state is also considering technology like solar fencing and sensor-based alerts. These steps can save lives if implemented lawfully and humanely. They can also become a pretext for excessive force if oversight fails.
Officials have discussed population-control measures and expanded powers to “deal with” so-called violent animals. Sterilization facilities and rapid-response teams, if misused, can translate into rushed procedures, improper handling, or unlawful killings that leave animals injured or dead. History shows that poorly designed sterilization drives may fail on efficacy and open the door to suffering. Strong controls, transparent reporting, and swift discipline are essential.
Accountability must be explicit. Any responder who beats, shoots, poisons, or cruelly restrains an animal outside the law should face prompt suspension, criminal referral, and a public audit of actions taken. Humane conflict mitigation works best when backed by clear nonlethal protocols, third-party veterinary oversight, and camera-verified evidence chains. Sign below to demand the department codify these safeguards, publish monthly enforcement summaries, and prosecute suspected abusers to the fullest extent.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Mishra,
We appreciate efforts to reduce dangerous encounters. We are alarmed, however, by reports of intensified crackdowns and expanded authority that could enable illegal culls or cruel handling of bears, leopards, monkeys, and other wildlife. Humane tools like solar fencing, sensor alerts, fox lights, and education save both human and animal lives when paired with strict oversight.
We therefore urge your office to issue a written zero-tolerance directive that any officer or contractor who kills, maims, or cruelly sterilizes wildlife outside lawful protocols will be immediately removed from field duty, referred for prosecution, and publicly named in monthly summaries. Please require body-worn video during interventions, independent veterinary supervision for any capture or sterilization, and prompt audits after every serious incident.
We ask you to prioritize nonlethal measures, publish data on conflict responses, and ensure that suspected abusers face real consequences. Transparent enforcement will protect communities, deter cruelty, and uphold Uttarakhand’s legal obligations to wildlife.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Soumyajit Nandy
