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| Heavy snowfall may push for increase in man-animal conflict cases | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 16: What could be a major concern; the frequent snowfall this season has impacted the wild life and could lead to increase in man-animal conflict cases in Kashmir.
Kashmir has been facing frequent snowfall since November 7. The snowfall in the wildlife has led to food scarcity forcing animals to go residential areas.
The wild life department has issued an advisory asking people to be cautions.
It lists the precautionary measures to be taken by them when encountered with wild animals
“Always move on regular forest paths and avoid short cuts. Provide sufficient light around your utilities outside your home so that animals do not feel safe in the vicinity,” the advisory reads.
It reads that villagers must regularly remove all bushes or shrubs from the vicinity of houses in cooperative manner. “Such vegetation clearance will increase visibility and help to keep the leopard away from their house,” it says.
According to the official data of Wildlife Department, for the last two months, 18 black bears have been driven back with three captured and released in Shopian and Pulwama districts. Also three leopards have been driven back with one captured and released. The porcupines have also drifted to the human habitats with three captures and releases in these two south Kashmir districts.
An official of the Wildlife Department said the wild animals can come in the contact of humans when food is not readily available in the forest areas.
“There are chances for more man-animal conflict cases,” the official said.
“The herbivorous animals like Hangul and Grey Himalayan Langur are mostly dependent on plants, grasses and leaves. The thick layers of snow block their access to the food due to which they can descend to the low-lying areas. In these circumstances, Hangul can also become an easy prey to Leopards,” he explained.
“However, food scarcity can propel them to reach low lying areas. In such a scenario, we have resorted to artificial feeding. Like in Dachigham national park, we are using Willow Bachas. It refers to the branches of willow trees that are cut and tied up in small piles in the autumn season. With the onset of winter, they are hung from trees or scattered over so that Hangul can survive on it,” the official said.
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