NGT acts on rising threat to Kashmir's Himalayan brown Bears

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised concerns over the declining population of Himalayan brown bears in Jammu & Kashmir, following a Wildlife SOS report. The study, conducted with the J&K Wildlife Protection Department, highlights severe threats to these endangered bears due to increasing human activities in their habitats.

NGT intervenes to save Kashmir's brown Bears

The report reveals that expanding tourism, road construction, livestock grazing, and improper waste management are major factors behind the rise in human-bear conflicts. The research, conducted between June and October 2021, focused on the Thajwas (Baltal) Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding areas, including Sonamarg, Laxpathri, Nilgrath, and Sarbal villages, popular tourist and pilgrimage routes.

As these regions see an influx of tourists, especially during the Amarnath Yatra, pressure on brown bear habitats has escalated. The increase in human presence, combined with road and infrastructure development, has led to habitat fragmentation. This makes it difficult for bears to find food and shelter, pushing them closer to human settlements.

A concerning trend identified in the study is the brown bears’ growing reliance on food waste from garbage dumps. Researchers collected 20,627 camera trap images of brown bears, showing that 62% depicted bears foraging in human waste sites. Scat analysis from 408 samples found disturbing evidence: 86 samples contained non-digestible items like plastic bags, milk powder packets, chocolate wrappers, and glass fragments. This shows a worrying shift in feeding habits, with bears consuming anthropogenic food waste instead of their natural diet.

The study noted that bears frequently visited garbage dumps managed by the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA), army transit camps, and the Amarnath camp. Between three and 11 garbage vehicles dump 50 to 550 kilograms of food waste daily. Easy access to food is making bears habituated to human garbage, raising health risks and increasing the likelihood of dangerous encounters with humans.

The report highlights another serious issue: overgrazing by livestock. Sheep and goats grazing in alpine meadows compete with bears for food, depleting the vegetation cover crucial for the bears' diet. The presence of shepherds and their flocks in prime bear habitats has exacerbated human-bear conflicts. Additionally, livestock is often infected with zoonotic diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease, which threaten the brown bear population if transmitted.

The findings prompted the NGT to intervene, directing the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board, and local authorities to mitigate the human-bear conflict. The tribunal emphasized stricter tourism regulations and better waste management to protect the endangered species.

Recommendations

The report outlines recommendations to address the pressing issues:

1. Regulating Tourism: It suggests controlling visitor numbers to Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding areas during peak seasons like the Amarnath pilgrimage. It also proposes exploring alternative pilgrimage routes to reduce pressure on the region's wildlife corridors.

2. Improving Waste Management: Establishing systematic garbage disposal systems is crucial. The report calls for bear-proof bins at tourist sites and hotels, and placing community garbage dumps far from human habitation to discourage bears from foraging.

3. Managing Livestock Grazing: The report recommends restricting grazing in sensitive alpine meadows and vaccinating livestock against diseases. It suggests regulating the number of animals grazing in bear habitats to reduce food competition.

4. Awareness Campaigns: The report emphasizes the need to educate local communities and tourists about brown bear conservation. Programs should inform people on reducing conflicts and coexisting peacefully with wildlife.

The report underscores the need for immediate action from all stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, and tourists. The survival of the Himalayan brown bear, restricted to limited alpine meadows, depends on coordinated efforts to mitigate human impact and restore their habitats.

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