At least 68 people including children have been killed and 318 wounded some of them grievously in the leopard attacks in the frontier district of Kupwara from the last six years.
Sources in the Wildlife Department told sach news that the attacks were at all time high in 2004-05. “During the year, the leopards attacked 60 people killing 15 and wounded 30 others,” sources said.
The officials attribute the increasing attacks of leopards in human habitation to the declining prey-predator ratio and continued human interference. “The predator is not only to be blamed for the man-animal conflict. It’s the humans who are intruding into the territory of the wild animals. Their interference is responsible not only for declining number of animals on whom the leopards prey, but also for degradation of their habitat. People are encroaching upon forest land in order to extend their habitation,” Wildlife Official told Greater Kashmir on the conditions of anonymity.
He said the leopards were on prowl in Darishpora, Machipora, Tumpora, Magam, Hafrada, Sharkoot, Phulmargi, Achamargi, Hangrikoot, Tumina, Chowkibal, Rashanpora, Melyal and Diver in Lolab valley.
“If the attacks are not stopped forthwith we will be forced to migrate to other places,” Abdul Rehman of Hangrikoot said.
Reyaz Ahmad of Chowkibal said, “We don’t send children alone to the school as during the last few days, two girl students have become prey to the leopards.”
When contacted, Wildlife Warden North Kashmir Circle, Rouf Ahmad told Greater Kashmir “Most times, the villagers attack the wild animals or lay snares. This brings more trouble for them as the injured leopard easily turns into a man-eater and then it is most difficult to eliminate it. We have paid Rs one lakh as an interim relief to the next of the kin of the 14-year-old student Rubeena who was killed at Malikpora while as the condition of Nusrat was injured at Phoolmargi is stable.”
“Our team is in the area to trap the beast for which we need the support of locals,” he added.
Sources in the Wildlife Department told sach news that the attacks were at all time high in 2004-05. “During the year, the leopards attacked 60 people killing 15 and wounded 30 others,” sources said.
The officials attribute the increasing attacks of leopards in human habitation to the declining prey-predator ratio and continued human interference. “The predator is not only to be blamed for the man-animal conflict. It’s the humans who are intruding into the territory of the wild animals. Their interference is responsible not only for declining number of animals on whom the leopards prey, but also for degradation of their habitat. People are encroaching upon forest land in order to extend their habitation,” Wildlife Official told Greater Kashmir on the conditions of anonymity.
He said the leopards were on prowl in Darishpora, Machipora, Tumpora, Magam, Hafrada, Sharkoot, Phulmargi, Achamargi, Hangrikoot, Tumina, Chowkibal, Rashanpora, Melyal and Diver in Lolab valley.
“If the attacks are not stopped forthwith we will be forced to migrate to other places,” Abdul Rehman of Hangrikoot said.
Reyaz Ahmad of Chowkibal said, “We don’t send children alone to the school as during the last few days, two girl students have become prey to the leopards.”
When contacted, Wildlife Warden North Kashmir Circle, Rouf Ahmad told Greater Kashmir “Most times, the villagers attack the wild animals or lay snares. This brings more trouble for them as the injured leopard easily turns into a man-eater and then it is most difficult to eliminate it. We have paid Rs one lakh as an interim relief to the next of the kin of the 14-year-old student Rubeena who was killed at Malikpora while as the condition of Nusrat was injured at Phoolmargi is stable.”
“Our team is in the area to trap the beast for which we need the support of locals,” he added.
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