In a week-long effort, Wildlife Department officials in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district successfully captured two black bears that had been causing concerns for villagers in the Ahamshareef area.
Local residents reported that the bears had been attacking domestic animals near the forest, prompting the villagers to seek assistance from the authorities. Fida Hussain, the Incharge Wildlife Department official in Bandipora, stated that the team had been actively camping in the area for over a week to apprehend the bears.
“We were successful on Wednesday and Thursday and caught two adult male and female bears,” Hussain reported.
He explained that as the bears descended from the forests to feed on apples and corn during the harvesting season, they had started to pose a threat to human settlements, resulting in the killing of domestic animals.
Despite the successful capture of the two bears, Hussain cautioned that several others were still roaming in different villages, particularly in Arin. He noted a significant increase in the bear population in the area during this period.
While expressing relief among villagers after the successful capture, Hussain emphasized that ongoing efforts were required due to the continued presence of bears in the region. Wildlife officials, facing a shortage of manpower, are doing their best to manage the situation.
“The bears that were caged in the animal trap were then tranquillized and shifted to a rehabilitation centre in Chitirnaar,” officials stated. “They were later released into the forests far away from human settlements.”