Mudassir Ahmad
Srinagar, May 07 (KINS): Kashmir has witnessed an increase in man-animal conflict incidents, with 264 people killed since 2006.
According to official figures available with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), at least 264 people were killed by wild animals since 2006. Among them 30 people have been killed over the last three years.
Pradeep Chandra Wahule, the Regional Wildlife Warden in Kashmir, highlighted several factors contributing to the surge in human-wildlife conflicts. He pointed out the expansion of human settlements, habitat fragmentation, and the rising population of dogs, which are easy prey for leopards. Furthermore, he noted a behavioral change where leopards are increasingly breeding near human habitats. Wahule acknowledged the escalating incidents of conflict, with the department receiving distress calls daily. Actions taken include capturing, tranquilizing, or releasing animals back into the wild. Regrettably, some encounters result in harm or fatalities for both humans and animals. (KINS)
