In yet another incident of human-animal conflict, a total of 72 numbers of goat’s kid, two sheep and a goat were killed by a pack of stray dogs in Srepley valley a grazing land in Shachukul on May 9. 

From a long time, stray dogs have created a menace in the area by killing domestic animals like donkeys, sheep and cows. The villagers are fed up with the growing menace without no solution and responses from anyone. 

Tsering Norboo, headman and owner of the loss livestock showing resentment over the issue said, “We have lost the root of this year livestock. The kids were just grown up and were ready to be taken out for grazing in few days but the dogs have taken their lives very mercilessly.”

He further said, “The dogs killed 25 goat’s kid from our corral, 17 from my neighbour, 30 kids and a goat from another neighbour. We have covered the corral with the tent and some are kept in the pen called ‘ripul’ but still, they have pulled them out and killed. Next day they again killed two sheep in the village itself.”

The way from Shachukul to Tharuk called Sertok thang has become a nightmare for the people due to stray dogs.  From the last two years, they have stopped travelling by foot in fear of dogs. 

Tsering Phuntsog, a villager asserted, “Dogs are posing a threat to the animals as well as human. I was threatened by a group of dogs in Sertok thang while I was travelling to Tangtse, fortunately, I was able to escape.  There is a need for action against it to avoid any mishap in the near future.”

While questioned about the menace of stray dogs and the steps towards it, Dr. Mohd. Iqbal, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer said, “We have carried out the sterilisation programme in Leh and we are also going to carry out at the mass level in villages. Due to the cold climate condition in Durbuk block, we have decided to carry out the birth control programme in June for which an NGO from Himachal is also joining us thus it will make the programme more successful with the help of more doctors.” 

Tashi Yakzee, Councilor Tangtse said, “Stray dogs have been a major problem in my constituency. I have submitted letter to EC Animal and sheep husbandry for compensation.. For the stray dog’s birth control, I have taken up the matter with the Chief Animal Husbandry for ABC programme.”

Despite many complaint and dog bite cases, no one came forward to solve this issue in a serious way.