Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR June 23(KINS): A day after news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) reported that over 100 pigs are present in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, authorities on Tuesday sent a team of the Wildlife Department to catch non-native animals.
On Sunday, a dead wild boar (pig) was found at a graveyard in the Boniyar area of Baramulla district. The presence of wild boar or pig, which is not a native animal of Kashmir, has created a scare among people.
Range Officer Wildlife Department Baramulla, Altaf Koul claimed over 100 wild boars (pigs) are present in Baramulla district alone.
SDM Uri Baramulla Riyaz Ahmad Malik Tuesday said they have called a team of the Wildlife Department.
“The team will be camping in the area to catch pigs. We don’t want to harm them (pigs) but will be chased away,” Malik told KINS.
Range Officer Wildlife Department Baramulla, Altaf Koul Monday claimed over 100 wild boars are present in Baramulla district alone.
“They (wild boars) mostly reside near the Line of Control. They have tusk teeth and can attack people. The wild boar is a wild species of pig. If anyone found dead wild boar anywhere, this animal should be burnt immediately to contain the spread of disease,” Altaf told KINS.
He said Kashmir being a Muslim dominated society won’t accept the presence of this animal. “People won’t allow these animals to go in their areas. These could be sighted in Kazinag National Park, Limber Wildlife Sanctuary, and Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary. There has been a rapid increase in their population in north Kashmir,” he said.
Wild boar have also been sighted in the Dachigam National Park of Srinagar in recent years. In 2010, a dead wild pig was also sighted in Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary of north Kashmir by a team of researchers when they were surveying for Markhor.(KINS)
