Sakeena Banday
Srinagar, Jan 29: To prevent any man-animal conflict, Wild Life Department has issued an advisory urging people residing near forests to take extra precautions while venturing out of their homes as the wild animals due to recent snowfalls may come down towards plains to fancy their chances of getting food.
According to the advisory, people living in the forest areas especially Nishat, Shalimar, Harwan, Khrew, and Khonmoh, have strictly been advised to ensure not to wander alone in the late evenings and wee hours in the morning.
An official of Wild Life Department said, due to the frequent snow in the Valley, wild animals may migrate towards the residential areas to find food as there is a scarcity of food in the forests.
“We have issued advisory with regards to the same to caution people over the presence of wildlife in the late evening hours and early mornings,” he said.
He suggested that people should provide sufficient light around their houses so that it would deter wild animals away from the vicinity.
Besides, people have also been advised not to scatter leftovers around as it will attract the wild animals.
“Generally, we issue an advisory when it snows abundantly as wild animals at these times migrate towards the residential areas in search of food,” Chief Wildlife Warden, Rashid Naqash told The Kashmir Monitor.
According to the advisory, children and women are more vulnerable to wild animals. “People should travel in groups and children should be accompanied by elders, read the advisory document.
“Do not chase or try to go near to a wild animal if sighted from a distance,” the document read.
Naqash clarified that besides, snowfall there are others reasons also which force the wild animals to come towards plains.
“Change in land use patterns, denudation of forests, encroachment of forestland, establishing of developmental projects near forest foothills are of the other reasons responsible for increase in man-animal conflicts cases in Kashmir Valley.
Pertinently, according to official figures, since 2006, the state’s Wildlife Protection Department has recorded 228 human mortalities and 3,350 injuries related to the man-animal conflict in the Kashmir region alone
