A wild fight for survival!
With a spike in incidents of human-wildlife conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, there is a need to ascertain reasons for foraying of wild animals into human habitations. It needs scientific validation to know if the increasing human activities, construction in forests, disturb wild animals. When their survival is at stake, the wild animals foray into human habitations for food. This triggers their conflict with humans!
As an easy prey, wild animals have been mostly attacking and killing children. There is an atmosphere of fear among people living near forests after sunset. Even a slight movement sends shivers down the spine of people!
As per reports, in the last 18 years, 250 people lost their lives and over 3000 were injured in human-animal conflicts in J&K. As a collateral damage, several wild animals too have been killed.
We need to understand that the Himalayan region of J&K is a biodiversity hotspot. J&K is home to 110 mammal species, over 500 bird species, amounting to 40 percent of India’s avifauna and 26 percent of India’s mammalian diversity respectively. Besides, it has 68 reptile species.
The endangered species like the critically endangered Kashmir Red Deer (Hangul), Kashmir Musk Deer, Kashmir Markhor, Himalayan Serow, Himalayan Tahr, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Wolf, Asiatic Black Bear, and Brown Bear, besides several species of birds endemic to this region face severe population declines due to habitat degradation, poaching, and human disturbances.
What is the solution to this escalating human-wildlife crisis? Experts at the Division of Wildlife Sciences of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences (SKUAST) Kashmir are working on science-driven conservation strategies for wild animals.
Headed by Prof. Khursheed Ahmad, the Division of Wildlife Sciences, has launched an AI & ML-driven (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning) Wildlife Monitoring and Population Estimation Project, in collaboration with Cambridge Institute of Technology, Bengaluru.
The state-of-the-art initiative integrates AI-powered machine learning, satellite telemetry, genetic capture-recapture techniques, non-invasive camera trap surveys, and real-time health monitoring sensors to revolutionise wildlife monitoring.
Unlike in conventional, labour-intensive methods, this technology-driven approach provides precise, real-time data on population dynamics, movement patterns, behaviour and physiological health, instrumental in reversing species decline, preserving genetic diversity, identifying critical movement corridors, and implementing proactive, targeted conservation interventions.
As Dr Khursheed explains, 'by harnessing AI, Machine Learning, and advanced telemetry, SKUAST-Kashmir is setting a new benchmark in wildlife conservation, ensuring the long-term survival of endangered species in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.'
SKUAST is working on two mega projects including on Hangul, Tibetan Antelope or Chiru and Musk deer funded by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India under Himalayan Bioresources Mission. These projects are of immense significance to provide science based solutions to develop effective management strategies for long term conservation planning.
Studies have shown that disturbed corridors of the critically-endangered Hangul or Kashmir stag are hampering the species from using its summer habitats.
This is mainly due to anthropogenic pressure owing to livestock grazing in upper reaches of Kashmir. This was detected by analysis of Satellite Collaring of Hangul project with experts recommending urgent measures to expand the range of Hangul to alpine meadows and corridor areas outside its bastion Dachigam National Park.
The study aimed to trace movement patterns of Hangul using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Satellite Telemetry was conducted for over four years by SKUAST in collaboration with the Wildlife Protection Department.
The studies on ecology and genetics on Hangul and Tibetan antelope, alongside habitat exploration for snow leopards in Kashmir and Kishtwar, have significantly contributed to global biodiversity knowledge and helped in finding measures for conservation of these species.
At many places in Kashmir, movement of wild animals has been hampered due to closure or disturbances in their traditional corridors in upper reaches of Kashmir. For economic gains, people in many areas have converted their paddy fields into orchards.
The smell of fruit attracts bears. Poultry and sheep farms have been set up close to forest areas and these also lure wild animals to venture into human habitations—triggering conflict with humans. Besides, wanton felling of trees in forests too is driving wild animals towards lower areas.
Situation has assumed horrendous dimensions as leopards and bears foray into J&K’s summer capital Srinagar’s densely populated areas especially localities around Old Airfield, Harwan, Brein, Nishat, and Gupkar which fall in the Zabarwan range of mountains. At many places in Srinagar, wild animals are localised now.
It is clear that due to unplanned development, the buffer zone between forests and human habitations in Kashmir is vanishing fast.
Disturbances in upper reaches of famous tourist resort Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district severely affected habitat of the endangered Himalayan Brown Bear.
As per a study, poor solid waste management is attracting bears closer to human settlements. It is surprising that 75 percent of the brown bear’s diet is from human-sourced waste in Sonamarg. Increased tourism activities and haphazard constructions have led to habitat fragmentation of various wild animals including the Himalayan Brown Bear.
We should not see wild animals as only predators. Their presence is important to maintain ecological balance. We have to give wild animals their due space. Let’s take a pledge to care for wild animals by conserving their habitat.
Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir
