Women Role Models in the Kashmir Valley: Alia Mir, a dedicated wildlife rescuer, spends most of her time in the Kashmir Valley rescuing fauna such as wild boar, Asiatic black bear, Himalayan brown bear, leopard and Levantine viper. She does it all while wearing a salwar suit and scarf, from climbing ladders to rescuing snakes trapped inside homes to feral wild boars that have gotten loose in areas where people live. On an average, he receives at least three to four rescue calls per day. His job is to lead his team with caution to protect both humans and animals. Stray animals in forests may pose a threat to people or may be attacked by people acting in self-defense. Mir stresses on the need for animal rescue activities and says that animals should be rescued and shifted to places that are safe for them away from human habitation.
Alia Mir’s passion for wildlife
Alia Mir has always been passionate about wildlife. She recalls that her father used to give food to the dogs and birds that lived around their house, something she did too. When she was young she used to play with and take care of the stray animals that roamed near her house. She married Dr. Shabbir Ahmed, a veterinary doctor, in 2002 while she was pursuing her master’s in mathematics in Delhi. From that point on, her initial affinity for animals developed into a full-fledged obsession. Mir found out about Wildlife SOS through her husband’s contacts, and she later signed up to help in Delhi. He also started his career as a mathematics instructor. However, little did she know that life had other plans for her.
Also Read: How A Trip To Bali Changed This Engineer Couple’s Life? Earning Rs 18 lakh per month after quitting high paying job
Aliya Mir – The Protector
Alia Mir is a staff member of Wildlife SOS, a non-profit organization established in 1995 in Delhi with the mission of rescuing and rehabilitating injured wild animals. Since 2002, he has worked as the Project Director and Education Officer of the Kashmir Valley. She has so far participated in more than 400 missions to rescue animals from populated areas, including leopards, snakes, white and black bears, wild boars and porcupines. Depending on the circumstances, the rescue procedure varies. Usually, the animal that has been rescued is sedated. Trap cages are sometimes set up to capture animals, and camera traps are used to capture animal actions.
Alia Mir – Awards and Recognition
This year’s day was especially special for the Wildlife SOS team. The Department of Forests, Ecology and Environment, Government of Jammu and Kashmir honored Alia Mir, Education Officer and Program Head, Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife SOS with an award in recognition of her outstanding contribution in several aspects of wildlife conservation. She was the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir to be recognized for her work in wildlife conservation of the region. In a function organized to honor him, the honorary award was presented to him by Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
As Meer works to end conflicts between people and wildlife in his native Kashmir, Meer has served as a symbol of hope and bravery for the local population and animals for more than ten years. After rescue, the animals are taken to the Dachigam and Pahalgam rehabilitation facilities, which were constructed as per the specifications of the Central Zoo Authority. Along with running rescue operations, Meer is constantly working to raise awareness about animal behavior and instruct people on how to protect themselves from wild animals.











