SRINAGAR, Sept 4: A four-year-old baby girl was dragged away by a leopard to a forest in north Kashmir and later only her half eaten body was recovered, police said on Tuesday.
This is the third such incident in past 10 days underlining the mountainous region’s grave man-animal conflict issue.
Wildlife officials say 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 humans.
The fresh incident took place on Monday evening in Vilgam area of Handwara town north of Srinagar.
“Sumaiya Bashir was returning from a field with her parents when the beast attacked her last evening near Vilgam area of Handwara,” officials said.
“The lepoard dragged the girl to a nearby forest. Later, half-eaten body of the girl was recovered by rescue team, comprising police and locals.”
Agitated over the incident, locals protested against wildlife department for its alleged failure to protect them from frequent attacks by wild animals.
However, the protesters later dispersed off peacefully after senior officers assured necessary action to prevent such incidents.
Wild bears and leopards besides other animals are now frequently wandering into Kashmir villages killing people and livestock.
Nearly half a dozen people have been killed so far this year by wild animals, and scores of others have been injured, wildlife officials say.
At the weekend, a man was dragged from his mud house in south Kashmir district by a leopard as he slept and a woman was mauled by a black bear in the valley.
Authorities have set up control rooms and are distributing 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 ten months after attacking local people.
