Man-Animal conflict shows declines in J&K this year
Officials credit awareness campaigns, new rescue vehicles for reversing rising trend in wildlife encounters
By: Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: After witnessing a disturbing surge in human-wildlife conflict cases last year, Jammu and Kashmir has seen a notable decline in such incidents in the current year (2024–25), officials from the Wildlife Protection Department confirmed on Tuesday.
In 2023–24, the Union Territory recorded a record 4,947 cases of man-animal conflict — a more than 50 percent increase from the 3,262 cases reported in 2022–23. These included 12 deaths and 83 injuries across various districts, primarily due to leopard and black bear attacks.
However, in a welcome shift this year, the number of such encounters has significantly reduced, especially in North Kashmir, which has been a hotspot in recent years.
“We have seen a sharp dip in conflict cases in areas like Kupwara and Baramulla over the past two months,” said a Wildlife official in North Kashmir. “This is largely due to community outreach, school campaigns and rapid response readiness.”
The J&K Forest and Wildlife Department, in collaboration with local administrations, has established 42 fully operational control rooms across vulnerable districts. These centers are equipped with tranquilizer guns, rescue cages, and trained personnel to respond to distress calls involving wild animals.
Further boosting these efforts, a fleet of wildlife rescue vehicles was introduced in May 2025. These specially designed vans—fitted with protective cages and communication equipment—have been deployed in conflict-prone areas including Budgam, Shopian, Anantnag, and Kangan.
“These vehicles allow our teams to act swiftly. Even a 10-minute delay can be fatal in these situations,” said a senior wildlife officer based in Anantnag.
Officials believe that awareness among villagers and farmers has been instrumental in the decline. Door-to-door sensitization campaigns, conducted in the wake of leopard sightings earlier this year, educated locals on how to safely respond to animal sightings, secure livestock, and avoid provocative actions.
“We explained to villagers the importance of garbage disposal and not feeding stray dogs, which often attract leopards. The message has reached the ground,” said Suhail Ahmad, a field officer in Baramulla.
At the same time, encroachment into wildlife corridors remains a challenge. The department is also focusing on preserving forest buffer zones and preventing unregulated construction in sensitive habitats.
While the downward trend brings relief, officials caution against complacency.
“Human-wildlife conflict is cyclical. We may see spikes again during harvest season or winter months when animals move closer to human settlements in search of food,” said a senior official.
He added that the department is working on a comprehensive conflict mitigation policy, including fencing forest borders, expanding wildlife sanctuaries, and deploying drone surveillance in dense zones.
With the ongoing measures and active public participation, the Jammu and Kashmir administration hopes to sustain this positive trend and make the region a model for wildlife coexistence in the Himalayas.
