SRINAGAR: At least two black bears went on a rampage in different villages in Kashmir valley injuring a child and three women, police say.
This is the second attack by bears in the past three days.
The fresh attack took place at Limber area of north Kashmir which left a child and two women injured, a police statement says.
Another lady was seriously hurt when a bear attacker her in Khag area of Budgam.
After shrinking of their natural habitat, wild bears and leopards are wandering into Kashmir villages and have killed nearly 200 people and maimed thousands since 2005.
Leopard and Himalayan black bear populations have increased after a ban on hunting was enforced in Kashmir in 1970, and the loss of pine forests had already increased contact between animals and people.
Man-animal conflict has shown a drastic increase in the region after authorities erected a fence along Kashmir’s border with Pakistan designed to stop militant incursions.
The nine feet high fence along Line of Control, a military line which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, is curbing the movement of wild animals, experts say.
Authorities are now planning to set up control rooms and distribute leaflets urging people living near forests to take precautions to prevent more casualties.
Police say at least six bears and leopards have been killed by villagers and authorities in the last one year after attacking local people.
State’s Wildlife department has paid nearly five million rupees as compensation to the next of kin of the deceased persons and injured persons.
