Introduction:
Improper disposal of garbage waste in the panchayats and municipalities of the Kashmir Valley is attracting wild animals into human habitations, leading to an increased risk of problematic interactions with humans. Over the past decade, Kashmir has witnessed a rise in human-wildlife interactions across various parts of the valley. In recent years, wild animals have been sighted with increasing regularity in rural areas of Kashmir, prompting the Wildlife Department of Kashmir to lay cages to trap these stray animals and relocate them to reserve forests.
Research and expert opinions suggest that the recent surge in wild animal activity in human-inhabited areas of Kashmir is primarily due to an unscientific waste disposal system. Despite the government constructing 6,535 waste collection and segregation sheds across Kashmir, these sites have become hotspots for animal activity due to the accumulation of large amounts of waste.
The government’s inability to implement a scientific waste processing solution post-disposal has resulted in waste piling up in these sheds, further attracting wild animals to human settlements. On one hand, human encroachments into forest land and unregulated tourism have worsened the situation, while on the other hand, poor waste management has exacerbated human-wildlife conflict.
Waste Attracting Wild Animals Towards Human Settlements in Kashmir:
The region’s two bear species—the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and the Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus)—along with Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca), represent the most pressing man-animal conflict situations in Kashmir.
In July 2024, three leopards were repeatedly sighted at a waste segregation shed in Churmujra village of Budgam district. A few days later, they barged into a farmer’s shed, killing half a dozen sheep. Although the Forest Department laid cages to trap them, they were unsuccessful. A few weeks later, approximately 5 kilometers away from Churmujra, a leopard killed a dozen sheep in Gund village.
Nikit Surve, a research consultant with the Wildlife Conservation Society, India, told Hindustan Times: “Leopards are attracted to food. Garbage thrown out by humans attracts rats, dogs, and cats, which are prey for leopards. If we segregate garbage and keep it away from human settlements, we would not see so many leopard sightings in inhabited areas. As long as there is food and prey, the leopards will remain nearby.”
On May 13, 2023, a Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) was captured by the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department in the Rajwara area of North Kashmir. The bear had reportedly wandered into residential areas, posing a threat to people’s lives and their livestock. Similar incidents have been reported from villages such as Behnipora, Budshungi, and Shatigam, raising concerns among residents that more than one bear might be roaming in search of food.
Himalayan brown bears typically feed on insects, small crustaceans, alpine bulbs, plant roots, new grass shoots, domestic goats, sheep, and voles. However, a 2022 study conducted by Wildlife SOS, a wildlife conservation organization based in New Delhi, revealed that 75% of the food consumed by Himalayan brown bears in Kashmir was scavenged from trash. This included plastic carry bags, milk powder, chocolate wrappers, and biryani (a rice and meat preparation). These bears, having scavenged waste dumps for years, are now commonly referred to as “garbage bears.”
In the past two to three years, wildlife conservationists in Kashmir have reported a rise in brown bear sightings in the hills of Sonamarg, Drass, Kupwara, Pahalgam, the Pir Panjal range, and Gurez in the Bandipora district. Previously, brown bears were uncommon due to the remote areas they inhabited. However, they have recently come under human scrutiny as they descend to lower elevations in search of food.
Notably, improper disposal of garbage, particularly kitchen waste, has made food more accessible to these animals, encouraging them to return frequently. In the process, they increasingly come into contact with humans.
Direct Impacts on the Ecology and Behavior of Wildlife:
Open waste dumping not only intensifies human-wildlife conflict but also disrupts the delicate balance of nature and alters the behavior of wild animals. Take the example of the brown bear. Experts have warned that the behavior of brown bears has been significantly affected by the availability of easy food sources. They are now delaying their hibernation and have become complacent, choosing not to hunt for food.
Typically, brown bears begin hibernation in October and emerge around April or May. They are known to prefer grasslands and open valleys, climbing as high as 5,500 meters in the summer and returning to the valleys in autumn.
Regional Wildlife Warden Pradeep Chandra Wahule told Kashmir Observer: “Humans are causing leopards to change their behavior. Leopards enjoy eating dogs. When waste is thrown in the open, particularly leftover food, it attracts dogs. As the dog population grows, leopards adapt their behavior and infiltrate residential areas because they are drawn to this easy prey. If waste is properly processed, wild animals will not have such easy access to food. To keep leopards out of residential areas, waste must be properly disposed of.”
According to scholar Geetanjali Katlam, there is an ecological shift taking place, with some animal species becoming increasingly reliant on human food waste. Wildlife will suffer greatly if proper waste management practices are not implemented, especially in and around natural areas and forest regions.
Garbage disposal facilities impact animal life in both physical and toxicological ways. Wild animals often consume plastics found in trash, leading to fatal injuries and damage to their digestive systems. This results in malnutrition, stomach ulcers, reduced fitness, growth issues, and premature death.
Human-Wildlife Conflict in Kashmir:
According to statistics, between 2006 and March 2024, 264 people were killed and hundreds injured in human-wildlife conflicts. Since 2021, 36 people have died in the Kashmir Valley due to such conflicts, with 261 injured and 10,303 wildlife-related incidents reported. These alarming figures highlight the growing threats faced by people, particularly in rural and environmentally vulnerable areas.
The confrontation between humans and wildlife has intensified in Kashmir, as evidenced by the rapid increase in incidents each year. Between 2022 and 2023, 3,262 incidents were reported, resulting in 15 fatalities and 99 injuries. The situation was most severe in northern Kashmir, with 1,606 incidents and 10 fatalities recorded.
In 2023–2024, there were 4,947 documented instances of human-wildlife conflict, exacerbating the situation and resulting in 12 fatalities and 83 injuries. With 2,873 cases and 8 fatalities, the North Division once again reported the highest number of incidents.
As of December 2024, the situation remains dire, with 2,094 cases reported, leading to 9 fatalities and 79 injuries. The regions most prone to conflict include Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipora in the north, and Anantnag and Kulgam in the south.
Improper waste disposal is not only attracting wild animals towards human habitation, but other factors, such as human encroachment on forest land and conventional tourism projects and practices, also contribute to the issue. However, in recent years, poor waste management has significantly exacerbated the situation, resulting in losses on both sides. Open waste dumping has played a major role in increasing human-wildlife conflict.
The conflict not only endangers human lives and livelihoods but also has a significant impact on wildlife. According to official data from Kashmir, 124 black bears and 44 leopards were killed between 2012 and 2020, highlighting the severity of human-wildlife conflict. This alarming statistic underscores how such confrontations destabilize ecosystems, reducing predator populations that are essential for ecological balance.
Recommendations:
In 2021, the government constructed around six thousand waste sheds in Kashmir. However, these sheds are now overflowing with waste, and the government seems uncertain about how to manage the waste after it is dumped. Therefore, these sheds should be fenced and locked to prevent further dumping until a proper waste processing system is established.
It is high time the government implements effective waste management solutions for waste produced from Panchayats and municipalities.
Additionally, the public should be encouraged to use sturdy, animal-resistant trash bags with tight-fitting lids to minimize odors that attract wild animals. Security around waste storage facilities can be enhanced by erecting fences or enclosures to prevent access by wild animals.
It is paramount to educate people on how the callous approach to managing waste is not only polluting the surroundings but also disturbing wildlife behavior. Therefore, the government and civil society organizations should run public awareness campaigns to educate residents about the perils of improper waste disposal and the importance of wildlife-friendly practices. Promoting community involvement can enhance effectiveness and compliance.
To lessen the conflict between humans and wildlife, it is essential to promote the segregation of hazardous, recyclable, and organic waste at the source. Animals like monkeys and wild boars, as well as larger predators, are drawn to villages in search of food when organic waste is mishandled. Communities can help eliminate a vital food source for these animals by segregating biodegradable waste for composting. Properly processing recyclable materials, like plastics, is important to prevent wildlife from consuming them and suffering serious health problems or even dying. To avoid contaminating natural habitats, hazardous waste needs to be handled carefully. Effective segregation ensures safety for both humans and animals.
Kashmir is surrounded by forests, and human settlements are often close to wildlife habitats, so it is paramount to design areas with consideration for local wildlife. The government must incorporate green spaces and corridors to minimize human-wildlife conflicts. Proper planning can reduce the attraction of wildlife to human settlements. Conservation measures should address inappropriate habitats, human waste, and ecological influences on animal populations. More research is needed to assess the impact of human waste on wild animals in Kashmir and to reduce its creation rate.’
References
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/encroachment-pushes-himalayan-brown-bears-into-kashmir-s-villages-89682?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Wildlife SOS And J&K Wildlife Protection Department Conduct First-Ever Brown Bear Research In India
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