Bear mauls man in Budgam

Srinagar, June 14

Barely a fortnight after a five-year-old girl was killed by a leopard, a man was mauled to death by a bear in the forests of Budgam district on Monday.

Sources said the man was grazing cattle in Ladermad forests when he was attacked by the animal. “The bear mauled him to death. The victim has been identified as Mohammad Ramzan of Surasyar village in Chadoora tehsil of Budgam district,” sources said.

Incidents of man-animal conflict have increased in Kashmir during the last decade. This is attributed to mindless encroachment of natural habitats of wild animals because of competition for food and space.

Experts believe that most of these encounters occur in areas which are part of the natural habitat of wild animals and have come under occupation of man during construction or for agricultural purposes. Two weeks back, a girl child was killed by a leopard in Humhama area of Budgam district. The area was a part of Karewa with dense vegetation a few years before residential houses came up there. — IANS