Himalayan Brown bears killed 16 Pashmina goats in Dras Sub-Division of Kargil.
A local news gathering agency Kashmir News Trust quoting locals reported that Himalayan Brown bears after completing hibernation strayed into the Troungjen Drass village from a nearby forest and entered the livestock shed of Mehrajuddin during the intervening night of 21 and 22 March.
“We were scared at the presence of 3 bears. Efforts to chase them away through firecrackers didn’t materialize. They killed 16 pashmina goats and dragged them away,” said Mehrajuddin adding that it was snowing heavily when the incident occurred.
He said there was blood everywhere and his family was frightened. “We were so scared that we thought brown bears might attack our children,” he said.
The owner of the livestock unit said that authorities instead of consoling are demanding bodies of dead goats. “Where from we will get the bodies?” he questioned and thanked Wild Life Department for sending a team and expressing grief over the huge loss of livestock which is the only means of sustenance for them.
An official said that the wildlife warden has been directed to assess the livestock loss for giving timely compensation and a corral pen to the family for protecting the remaining livestock. (KNT)
