Bear injures a villager in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 21 (UNI) A villager was injured critically when a bear attacked him in south Kashmir district of Ananatnag, a police spokesman said.

He said a bear attacked Shahnawaz Malik near his residence at Kokernag this morning. He was later shifted to hospital in critical condition.

On July 11, two villagers were killed by a bear in south Kashmir.

As many as 27 people have been killed and more than 120 wounded in attacks by leopards and bears in Jammu and Kashmir during the past two years.

In man-animal conflicts during the past ten years, more than 150 people have lost their lives and about 1,500 wounded in Jammu and Kashmir.

Two leopards were also killed by the people since January this year in the valley.

The reason behind the increasing man-animal conflicts in the state was the shrinking habitats of wild animals, spread of human settlements, deforestation and decrease in herbivore population.

UNI