Urbanisation, human interference in forest areas are responsible for man animal conflict

SHAKEELA ANDRABI

SRINAGAR: Kashmir has witnessed a rise in man-animal conflict over the past two decades, with experts citing urbanisation and interference of humans in wildlife habitats as the main reason for such incidents.
Although Human-wildlife conflict has certainly escalated greatly in the past few years in Jammu and Kashmir. Regional wildlife officials told, from 2006 till the end of 2022, the man-animal conflict has claimed 242 lives and 2940 people have been injured in such incidents . Previously, wild animals were thought to be seen in remote areas or areas adjacent to forests, but unfortunately in the last few years ,wild animals like leopard and black bears are now seen in the Srinagarcity centre. Due to which fear and panic spread among the residents of the city. On July 17, locals people spotted a leopard in Badamwari Park area of Srinagar and then informed wildlife department and the police. The Wildlife Department said that immediately after receiving the information, a team of experts has been dispatched to the area with emergency equipments from Dachigaam. The Srinagar police also wrote in a tweet ,”A leopard has been sighted in Srinagar, people are advised to remain indoors ,do not venture without reason or unnecessary. Meanwhile Wildlife department didn’t succeeded in capturing the leopard till last report was came in. In another incident on