14 killed, 211 injured in man-animal conflict

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 12

The man-animal conflict in the state has claimed 14 human lives and 211 persons were injured in attack by wild animals during 2014-15, highlighting the situation arising out of encroachment of forests by people.

The maximum number of attacks were reported from the Kashmir valley and mountainous areas of Jammu.

As per the data released by the government, eight people have died after being attacked by wild animals in Kashmir while 164 persons were injured in a year.

Similarly, six persons lost their lives in attacks by wild animals in Jammu and 47 were injured.

Baramulla leads the list by 39 injured persons followed by Anantnag district where two deaths were reported while 24 persons suffered injuries.

In the Jammu region, Ramban district leads the graph with 16 injured and two deaths followed by Kishtwar district where 14 persons were injured.

The data has revealed that keeping in view the problem, 24 control rooms have been established in the Kashmir region and 21 in the Jammu region. Cages have been installed at vulnerable points so as to capture wild animals.

“A proposal for establishment of four additional wildlife divisions, including Ramban wildlife division, is under examination. The control rooms have been equipped with tranquiliser guns, cages, nets, crackers to combat the human-animal conflict,” the government document reveals.

In 2011, the state government had proposed to involve villagers in curbing the man-animal conflict and create awareness among the people, but it was rejected by the Centre, saying it was not a success in other states.

Nearly 150 villages were identified across the state by the Wildlife Department where the scheme would have been implemented.

Officials said the control rooms would be equipped with vehicles, tranquiliser guns, cages and nets to deal with the menace at the local level.

Due to encroachment of forest land by people in recent years, the man-wild animal conflict in the state has assumed serious magnitude. It has created a worrisome situation for the government as in many cases, people usually kill the animal before a wildlife team reaches the spot.