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As apple harvest begins, black bears appear in Srigufwara

ESS AHMAD. Dated: 9/23/2020 10:51:02 AM

Scared locals say, Wildlife officials failed to trap the animal in 2 yrs

ANANTNAG, Sep 22: Every year when the apple harvesting season begins, the wild bears come down to populated areas in Srigufwara area of Anantnag not only attacking humans but damaging fruit as well. Last year at least five man-animal conflicts happened in Srigufwara and adjoining Viddy village causing death of a woman and resulted in critical injuries to five others.
The first such incident in the area took place a couple of days ago in which a man was attacked and was injured by the black bear. The black bear roaming in the orchards of the area has caused fear among the people who accuse wildlife authorities of bitterly failing to trap or kill the animal.
Locals complained that despite the Wildlife department setting up Wildlife Observation Office in Srigufwara, nothing is being done to trap the animals or prevent them from venturing into human populations.
"Last year, the single bear attacked at least six persons including two women during the apple harvesting season. One of the women was killed on spot. But the wildlife officials failed to tranquilise or kill the bear every time," said the locals.
A local resident , Muzaffar Ahmad Reshi, whose father was attacked by the bear a few days back in the orchard near his home questioned the functioning of the wildlife department.
"Since the harvesting season of apple began almost a couple of weeks ago, the bear has started roaming in the orchards located near the human habitations. This bear has caused fear among the people of the area and the wildlife officials are not doing anything to trap the animal," Reshi said.
According to Reshi, the bear who attacked his father few days ago is the same animal who had turned violent last year in the area.
"If the animal is not trapped or killed immediately, I am sure it may cause more human loss than it had done last year," he said.
The locals, fed up of the alleged inaction of Wildlife officials, have even approached police for intervention and sought help in getting the animal trapped.
"We have filed a written complaint with police against the Wildlife officials posted in the area for their failure to trap the animal in the last two years. Police has assured us of every possible help in this regard," said another resident.
Wild life warden, Anantnag, Raoof Ahmad Zargar said that he has atleast a dozen officials posted in the area working on mimimising the man-animal confrontations.
"The Wildlife officials posted in the area who are supposed to observe and prove that it is the same animal. Then the animal is declared rogue and threat to human life and then killed," Wildlife warden said.
He said that people have every right to register a complaint if the Wildlife officials are not failing in their job.
"Let the locals come to me and I will see what can be done," WL warden said.