F. Ahmed
Srinagar, Sep 13 (IANS) A mother bear and her two cubs strayed into a park in the heart of this tourist city Thursday, attracting hundreds of curious people as wildlife officials tried to catch the animals and take them back to the forest.
Officials of the local Wildlife Protection Department were trying to shoo the bears out of the bushes located close to Boulevard Road in the densely populated Gagribal area of the city, 4 km from the city centre Lal Chowk. The bears had ambled in from the forest early Thursday.
The wildlife officials have brought in nets, automatic traps and tranquilliser guns to catch the mother bear and her two cubs. They had cordoned off the area to prevent people from getting close.
“Our first priority would be to give the bears safe passage to the forest. We will try to catch the bears or tranquillise them only if there is threat to humans, which is remote now since we have cordoned off the area and stopped movement of humans close to the area,” said Rashid Naqash, wildlife warden (Central Division) here.
According to reports, the mother bear had tried to attack a local woman but was the shouting of residents frightened her into retreating behind the bushes.
The population of wild animals has registered a remarkable increase in the last two decades in Kashmir following stringent laws passed against poaching.
With the increase in human population and settlements close to forest areas and wildlife sanctuaries, it often brings humans and wild animals into direct conflict.
Earlier this year, residents in the south Kashmir Tral village had torched a bear that had wounded many people there.
The incident had attracted strong criticism from many, including animal rights groups.