A villager injured by bear in Kashmir

Srinagar Jun 16 (UNI) A 26-year-old man was attacked and critically wounded by a wild bear in south Kashmir district of Anantnag, official sources said today.

Narinder Singh was near his house near a temple at Mattan when suddenly a bear appeared there. However, before he could do anything, the animal attacked and injured him, they said.

The other villagers however, rescued him from the bear and later admitted him in the district hospital.

People near the forests continued to live in fear because of increasing incidents of man-animal conflict which has claimed about 60 lives and injured more than 325 during the past three years in the Kashmir valley.

In retaliation villagers, rejecting the protest by some animal lovers, also killed about half a dozen wild animals in the valley during the past one year.

Border fencing, expansion of human population and disturbance in natural habitat, besides heaviest snowfall in 25 years are some of the reasons which, according to experts, has forced wild animals to migrate towards the human dwellings in search of food.

UNI BAS YSS SLD UCS1523