The presence of wild animals have triggered panic in different areas of South Kashmir forcing wildlife department to issue an advisory asking people to cooperate with the department.
Locals from Heff Shirmal area of Shopian district told that a leopard was spotted in the area which triggered panic in many villages.
Similarly, locals from Safanagri, Shopian also said that footprints of a leopard were found in the area which has triggered panic in the area with people not able to go to their respective fields. Complaints also poured in from people of Jangalnad in Awantipora area of Pulwama that a leopard was found roaming in the area.
Wildlife officials also received a call that a leopard is roaming in the Zahidbagh Litter area and rumors triggered panic in the area after which the teams rushed to the spot and found that a Langur was roaming in the area. As per locals, the wildlife department officials told locals Langur is a leaf eater and won’t harm the humans.
Amid rising incidents of entry of wild animals into the human spaces across South Kashmir, Wildlife incharge for Pulwama and Shopian districts, Mudasir Ahmad said that due the fragmentation of habitat of wild animals, the cases are increasing and interference into the habitat of animals, which is another reason that pushes wild animals towards residential areas.
The department issued an advisory that states that people should not move alone early morning and evening hours. The advisory also stressed that movement of children and women should be restricted during evening and morning hours and people must move out of homes in groups—(KNO)