Kupwara: After south, the wild animals including leopards and black bears on Friday sneak into residential areas causing damage to livestock of farmers. Locals said that three sheep were killed by a black bear in Jahama area of Mawar in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday morning.
They said that the black bear entered into the cowsheds of Mushtaq Ahmad khan son of Habibullah Khan and Sonaullah Beigh son of Wali Mohammad Beigh at Jahama Mawer area of Handwara and killed three sheep sides and injured several others before they were chased by people.
The reports from other areas of north Kashmir including from Tangmarg Baramulla, Rafiabad Baramulla, Kandi belt of Handwara and Kupwara also said that leopards and black bears were spotted in residential areas due to which a panic was created among the local population. They said the animals killed several livestock of local people.
A senior wildlife official confirmed that as the forest areas received fresh snowfall and incessant rains the wild animals are coming towards the residential areas in search of food. He appealed to people to be vigilant and not to venture outside alone in the areas very close to forests.
Earlier, leopards were spotted in south Kashmir’s Shopian areas where multiple teams of wild life department were in search of them for many days. In January and February, the animals had been spotted again, this time injuring the civilians also.

Reader correspondent