Successful Capture of Four Black Bears Highlights Wildlife Issues in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar – The Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Conservation Department reported on Saturday the successful seizure of four Asian black bears that had been roaming near settlements in South Kashmir. The first bear, a male weighing roughly 500 kilograms, was tranquilised in the Bachu Sagam region of Kokernag, Anantnag district. Subsequently, the Sir Wildlife Control Wing retrieved three additional bears from traps laid in Ashmakum.

The operation, conducted by the Wildlife South Division based in Bijbehara, lasted the entire day and resulted in all four animals being captured alive. They will be kept under observation for a short period before being released back into their natural forest habitat.

Authorities explain that black bears are increasingly seen in the Kashmir Valley’s residential areas, university campuses, and villages due to changing climate conditions and a shorter, milder winter that disrupts their hibernation rhythm. The spread of apple orchards, conversion of forest land for agriculture, and diminishing buffer zones between woods and human habitations have driven wildlife closer to people in search of food.

Recent observations cover Srinagar (including university campuses), Anantnag, Ganderbal, Bandipora, and Kupwara districts. Alongside bears, common leopards are also venturing into human‑occupied zones, taking advantage of dense orchard cover, nurseries, and even abandoned waste sites. Poor waste management has resulted in a rise in stray dogs, creating an additional food source for these predators, while domestic livestock and poultry are also being targeted.

The department has deployed rapid‑response squads and a dedicated control room to tranquilise and relocate problematic animals. Captured leopards from Baramulla’s residential colonies and villages near Ganderbal have been transferred to protected areas such as Dachigam National Park. Residents are advised to be cautious during the main cropping season and early winter, secure their animals, and immediately report any wildlife sightings to the local control centre.