Srinagar: As back-to-back black bear encounters unsettle the Kashmir Valley, Environmentalists contend that humans, not the bears, have intruded into the bears' territory.
According to reports, the Wildlife Department captured a black bear on Thursday in Ahemsharif Village in north Kashmir's Bandipora.
The sighting of black bears has notably increased in the Kashmir villages in recent days, causing alarm among the local residents.
While the man-animal conflict has a long history in Kashmir, the region has experienced an intensified surge in human-animal conflicts over the past two years. In 2022 alone, there were approximately 250 deaths and 2950 injuries reported.
A 17-year-old teenage boy from Pir Panchal's Rajouri was injured in a bear attack a day before.
Addressing the issue, Dr Tawqir Bashir, a Wildlife Specialist contacted by The Himalayan Post, explained that black bears typically inhabit the upper reaches of the valley. The primary cause of the conflict, according to Dr. Tawqir, is the expanding human presence into their habitats.
"New colonies and settlements are being established near forest zones, such as in Humhama and Dachigam," added Dr. Tawqir.
In addition to being carnivorous, black bears are omnivorous, and their intervention is increasing, possibly due to a need for flesh, Dr. Tawqir added.