Kargil, Aug 1: Amid rising incidents of human-brown bear conflict in Kargil district, particularly in Sankoo Sub-Division, Executive Councillor (LAHDC Kargil) Aga Syed Mujtaba Musavi on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting and called for coordinated efforts to protect both human lives and wildlife.
The meeting, attended by officials from the Wildlife, Sheep Husbandry and Animal Husbandry departments, reviewed recent bear attacks, field reports and the measures being taken to tackle the growing conflict.
Expressing concern over livestock losses, the Executive Councillor directed the concerned departments to simplify and expedite the compensation process for affected families while simultaneously implementing long-term measures to reduce the movement of brown bears into human settlements.
Wildlife Warden Raza Ali Abidi informed the meeting that surveillance in vulnerable areas has been intensified, Rapid Response Teams have been deployed, night patrolling has been strengthened, and 24×7 control rooms are operational to respond swiftly to bear sightings and emergencies. He also appealed to residents to promptly report bear sightings and cooperate with field staff.
Emphasising public participation, Musavi instructed the Wildlife Department to launch village-level and social media awareness campaigns to educate people about safety precautions and the appropriate response during bear encounters.
The Executive Councillor stressed that sustained coordination among all departments is essential for effectively managing human-wildlife conflict while safeguarding local livelihoods and preserving Kargil’s rich wildlife heritage.
