Number of leopards, black bears increasing in J

Jammu, Jan 23 (UNI) The population of leopards and black bears has steadily increased in Jammu and Kashmir, with the militants finding hilly forests as their safest hideout, a minister today said.

''Although there has been no census in this regard but the official inputs from sevaral parts of the state have indicated a rise in the population of wild carnivores, particularly leopards and black bears,'' state minister for Forests and Environment Qazi Mohammad Afzal told UNI.

''They are being spotted frequently in the human habitats, and sometimes attacking domestic animals and locals, which is ultimately leading to people-wildlife conflicts,'' the minister added.

According to him, militancy has also played a major role in the wildlife growth in state. ''People are scared of venturing into jungles because of militancy, which has considerably helped in wildlife growth,'' Mr Afzal said.

The state government, he said, has requested the Centre to send a team of experts to carry a census of leopards, black bears and other wild animals.

UNI