There has been a substantial increase in man-animal conflicts over the years, leading to the loss or injury to the precious life. Also, notably the rising incidents of man-animal confrontation allude to disturbances caused in wildlife.
In the last five years alone, at least 40 people have been killed while 430 others were injured by wild animals across Kashmir Valley.
11 people lost lives in 2019, 5 in 2020 and 9 in 2021, as per the official data.
Similarly, 430 people were injured by wild animals in several incidents across the valley and include 120 in 2017 and 85, 87, and 57 in 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Recently, the wildlife department confirmed that wild animals have been seen in lower areas. Also leopards have been found close to human habitats in Srinagar in the recent past.
Destruction of forests sends wild animals closer to humans. There were reports when the covid-19 pandemic started that the animals carried the virus along with them. The biodiversity in forests harmlessly retains dangerous viruses and other pathogens among a vast pool of wild animals, away from people.
This aspect also underscores the value of maintaining viable ecosystems, and eliminating the entry of the wild animals from entering human surroundings.
There has been reckless exploitation of the environment over the years. Both officials at the helm of affairs and people are responsible. The growing man-animal conflicts serve as a dire warning to all the concerned that there should be no hasty permissions for projects in already enfeebled forests. There is ample evidence that environmental protection confers health protection and forests should be left undisturbed.
If poaching is one aspect of the conservation challenge, the other side of the story is the fast encroachments that threaten to endanger animals and the environment.
There is a need to promote conservation encompassing survival of all as well as diversity of the ecosystem. There is a need to create awareness, as also the action aimed at preventing people from causing disturbances to the wildlife. Also, there is an urgent need for the authorities to sensitise people and also devise foolproof measures to tackle wild animals as and when they venture close to human populations so as to prevent the loss of previous life.
