Kashmir wildlife benefits from insurgency, hunting ban



by Staff Writers



Srinagar, India (AFP) Sept 20, 2007



A 10-year-old hunting ban and the ongoing insurgency have brought about a boom in the populations of animals including leopards and bears in Indian Kashmir, wildlife officials say.

A crack down on gun ownership at the start of the rebellion and the risk of being caught in the cross-fire between militants and troops have largely kept poachers out of the forests in the revolt-hit region.

As a result, "there has been (an) increase in Kashmir's wildlife, leopards and black bears in particular," said wildlife warden Rashid Naqash.

Naqash said the numbers of rare bird species were also increasing and a scientific survey would be launched to provide figures.

"The reason being a strict ban on hunting, besides (which), poachers no longer dare to go into the forests for fear of getting caught in the cross-fire between militants and security forces," he said.

The latest assessment provides some rare good news for the Himalayan region, where demand for items such as bear skins and shawls made from the hair of antelopes had left a number of mountain species seriously endangered.

The anti-India Islamic insurgency that broke out in Kashmir in 1989 has left more than 42,000 people dead by official count. Human rights groups put the toll at 70,000 dead and disappeared.

At the start of the rebellion, locals were ordered to hand in their guns or run the risk of being caught with them and treated as insurgents.

"It meant there were few weapons left to shoot animals and birds," says Naqash.

In 1997, the government banned hunting and the trading of endangered animal furs. In May this year fur traders were ordered to hand over rare hides to be destroyed.

"This step will further protect the wildlife as poachers know even if they kill an animal they will not be able to sell its hide," said Naqash.

Other wildlife officials said there had also been a marked rise in the numbers of rare musk deer and markhor goats.

They said that although it was difficult to count birds, "rare and indigenous species like the black partridge and the pheasant have increased by a minimum of 50 percent since 1990."

Last year a record high of more than 600,000 migratory birds visited Kashmir.

But the population increase some animals have enjoyed has meant others, such as the rare Kashmir stag or hangul, face more predators.

"Leopards are praying on hangul as their (leopard) population has increased. We will not be able to stop these attacks unless some measures are taken," said A.K. Srivastava, the region's wildlife chief.

He said his department had asked the federal government for approval to fence protected areas after the hangul population dropped to just 150 from 200 in the past decade.

A rise in attacks on humans is another negative effect of Kashmir's increasing wildlife population.

Srivastava said animals had killed some 36 people over the past two years and wounded 217, resulting in eight orders to kill leopards and bears.

"My men could kill only one leopard. They have failed to kill others as leopards are very fast runners," he said.