‘Conflict within conflict’: Wild animal attacks rise in Kashmir

Nearly 200 people have been killed and over 2,000 others wounded in man-animal conflict in the region since 2011.

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – For more than two weeks, hunter Shabir Ahmad clutched his weapon – a bore gauge gun that can shoot up to 80 pellets at a time – close to his heaving chest and scanned the lush forests of Indian-administered Kashmir like a hawk. The hunter was looking for a leopard that mauled a five-year-old girl earlier this month while she was playing on her lawn in the Himalayan region’s Budgam area. The child’s family heard her scream and ran outside, only to find her doll and footwear lying in the mud.