Human-animal conflict: 224 killed, 3000 injured in Valley since 2006

Ground Report | New Delhi: Human-animal conflict; Due to human errors, the human-animal conflict has witnessed a rapid escalation and more cases are being reported from across the Valley with every passing day. According to official data available from 2006 to March 2021, 224 people have died and 2,829 people have been injured in the human-animal conflict.

Officials believe that the increase in incidents of conflict is due to an increase in human population, degradation of settlement, increase of stray dogs, and fencing along the LoC, News Agency KNO Reported.

Human-animal conflict: 224 killed

According to statistics, in 2006-07, 18 people have died and 134 people have been injured in the human-animal conflict in the Kashmir Valley. In 2007-08, 15 people lost their lives and 181 were injured. In 2008-09, 22 persons died and 251 persons were injured. In 2009-10 21 people died and 303 were injured and in 2010-10 27 people lost their lives and 407 people were injured in human-animal conflict.

Similarly, in 2011-12, at least 32 people were killed and 485 injured, the following year (2012-13) saw 14 deaths and 3024 injuries, while 2013-14 saw 30 deaths and 437 injuries.

There were 14 deaths and 225 injuries in 2014-15. In 2015-16, there were 11 deaths and 244 injuries. In 2016-17, there were 09 deaths, 136 injuries. In 2017-18, there were 09 deaths, 162 injured.

In the year 2018-19, there were 07 deaths and 101 injuries, while in 2019-20 the figure increased to 13 deaths and 138 injuries. In the year 2020-21 till March 2021, 12 people died, while 146 were injured in the conflict.

Two minor girls, one each from Budgam and Ganderbal, were recently mauled to death by a leopard. Relevantly, in case of death or permanent incapacity of a body part in such conflicts, the department provides compensation of Rs 3,00,000. 1,00,000 for grievous injuries and Rs 15,000 for minor injuries.

Since 2006, the department has provided around Rs 10 crore as compensation to the affected people and their families. As per the available data, out of 224 deaths, 213 have been settled and out of them more than Rs 3.18 crore has been given as compensation, while of 2,829 injured cases, 2709 have been settled and Rs 6.36 crore has been distributed among families. compensation has been distributed. of the victims.

44 leopards, 124 black bears died from 2012 to 2020

According to official figures of Kashmir, it was found that from 2012 to 2020, 44 leopards and 124 black bears have died. Some of these deaths were caused by human and animal conflicts. In the last 14 years (2006 to 2020), at least 242 people have died and 3,528 people have been injured in this human-animal conflict in Kashmir.  

Bear attack changed life

Shiva Ram, a resident of Sindra village of Doda, has not forgotten a black morning in 2018 till date. He says that he went to the forest area to fetch water that morning, when a bear suddenly attacked him, rendering his face useless. In February 2021, Kamala Devi, a resident of Rehi village of Doda, also became a victim of a bear and one of her arms became useless in this attack. Wild animals attack livestock and damage crops causing economic losses for the inhabitants of the area. Results suggest that leopards and black bears have the ability to adapt to any place and habitat to attack human life.

According to the studies published by indianforester, indicate that human settlements occur either in or around forests, resulting in wild there is a conflict with animals. It has further been found that with human installations the number of cases of conflict increases due to reduced distance from water sources.

The study also suggests some measures that may prove to be milestones in controlling human-wildlife conflicts in the region including strengthening the Forest and Wildlife Department; increasing professionalism in wildlife management through capacity building and awareness; Civil society involvement including state universities, government departments, NGOs, local communities and youth, especially students.