Population Boom Intrudes into Wildlife Habitats across Kashmir
CONCERN
By: Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: With rapid urbanisation and a surging population pushing deeper into forested zones of Jammu and Kashmir, wild animals are increasingly being forced out of their natural habitats—leading to a worrying rise in man-animal conflict across the region.
From leopards in courtyards to bears in bazaars, the incidents are growing, and so is the concern among conservationists and residents alike. Experts blame habitat destruction, deforestation, and unregulated land use for driving wild animals into villages and residential neighbourhoods.
“Increasing human intrusion into eco-sensitive zones is disturbing wildlife corridors and forcing animals to venture into human settlements,” said a SKUAST-K, expert. “Leopards, bears, and wild boars are now frequently seen in areas that were once far from their range.”
In Beerwah, Budgam, a black bear recently entered a residential colony, injuring two people before being tranquilised by forest officials. A similar case was reported from Kreeri (Baramulla), where a leopard cub was found inside a house courtyard, sending shockwaves through the village.
In Kupwara’s Redi Chowkibal, a leopard mauled livestock and injured a child, while in Anantnag’s Mattan area, wild boars caused widespread crop damage, posing a dual threat to farmers’ safety and livelihoods.
“These animals aren’t attacking out of aggression—they’re responding to the loss of food and shelter,” explained Dr. Shazia Bukhari, an ecologist from the Department of Environment and Remote Sensing. “Their survival instinct is now placing them at odds with humans.”
Environmental experts say traditional wildlife corridors—natural migration routes for animals—are vanishing under roads, houses, and farmland.
“In many areas, forest land has been converted without environmental assessments. This is a silent disaster,” noted Prof. Hilal Ahmad from the University of Kashmir’s Centre for Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences. “Grasslands are shrinking, and water sources are drying—leaving animals with no choice but to encroach.”
Forest officials admit that rapid response teams have been deployed across districts, but agree that these are reactive solutions. A senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The need of the hour is proactive planning—protecting forest buffers, restoring grasslands, and regulating construction around sensitive zones.”
Environmental groups are urging authorities to declare wildlife corridors as protected areas and initiate large-scale reforestation programmes.
“If this trend continues unchecked, we risk not just biodiversity loss, but a serious public safety crisis,” warned Asif Mir, conservationist with the Green Earth Collective.
With Kashmir’s urban expansion accelerating and wildlife habitats shrinking rapidly, experts say only immediate and sustained intervention can prevent further ecological damage—and safeguard both human and animal lives.
