Growing human-wildlife conflict is taking a serious turn in Jammu and Kashmir amid increasing movement of wild animals into human habitations with the beginning of apple harvest season. It is shocking that 6 people have been killed and nearly 90 injured in bear and leopard attacks in Kashmir valley since August this year. North Kashmir recorded three deaths and 39 injuries, including 33 in bear attacks and six in leopard attacks. The Anantnag-Kulgam Wildlife Range reported two deaths, both attributed to bear attacks, and 20 injuries. Pulwama-Shopian belt recorded 16 injuries, including one in a leopard attack, while Central Kashmir reported one death and nearly 15 injuries. 

The victims included five-year-old Ada Nisar, killed in a leopard attack in Ompora, Budgam, on September 7, and 12-year-old Ayan Asif, killed in Marsery, Kupwara, on September 28. In south Kashmir, 45-year-old woman Latifa Banoo was killed by a bear while working in an orchard at Tarigam, Kulgam, on August 31. In Anantnag-Kulgam, leopard attacks injured 10-year-old Zikra in Bijbehara’s Hayar area on September 25 and seven-year-old Shahida Akhtar in Kulgam’s Damhal Hanji Pora area on October 3. At least three other children in Central Kashmir were injured in leopard attacks. Four bear attacks were reported from the Banihal area of Jammu division last month. 

It is clear that wild animals target mostly children as these are soft targets........

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