JAMMU, MARCH 21 :The Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department has a new job on its hands: teaching people how to cook. The department has hit upon the idea to wean people away from hunting in wildlife protected areas.

Under the scheme — to be launched from the Hemis High Altitude National Park of Leh, India’s largest high-altitude reserve — the Wildlife Department will impart cooking training to those living within the protected area so that they can cater to visiting tourists as a means of income. The department hopes this will reduce their dependence on wildlife within the protected area.

Sixty-eight houses in the Leh park are being covered in the first phase, and the cookery lessons started two days ago. The department is determined to take the idea to other areas.

“This is to provide the people a sustainable livelihood so that they don’t resort to poaching or other illegal means to eke out a living,” says Wildlife Warden, Leh, Tahir Shawl.

The move comes ahead of the state’s plans to throw open wildlife parks and other protected areas for eco-tourism.

Under a home stay scheme started from the Hemis park, wildlife officials are already offering assistance to households within the protected area who want to host tourists. Each family is being given Rs 10,000 to revamp furnishing.

Shawl pointed out that the Hemis park has many trekking routes and many foreign tourists visit it. Most of the endangered species of Ladakh are found in the park, including the snow leopard. “Besides cooking, people are also being given training in computers and spoken English. This can also help them work as tourist guides,” says Shawl.

Eco-tourism can be a big revenue earner for the state as visitors have to pay fees for entry into wildlife areas. Says Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu, Naseer Kitchloo: “We are framing an eco-tourism plan to decide how best to tap the potential in the state. We need money to protect wildlife and the money can come from eco-tourism.”

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