Srinagar, August 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Two leopards were captured by a team of the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department in Budgam district, bringing relief to residents who had been concerned over the movement of the wild animals in the area.
The leopards were captured during an operation in Lakhripora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district following reports of their presence in the locality, an official said on Monday.
“The leopards were captured during an operation conducted by the department following reports of their movement in the locality. The capture has eased concerns among residents, particularly those living in areas where the leopards had been spotted,” the official said.
Residents had expressed apprehension over the presence of the animals in the area. The official said the department’s intervention had addressed the immediate concern and provided relief to the local population.
The captured leopards will be relocated and released into their natural habitat, the official added.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over human-wildlife conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. More than 17,000 such incidents and over 100 deaths have been reported over a recent five-year period, with changing land use, shrinking forest cover and expanding settlements near wildlife corridors contributing to increasing encounters.
Government data has indicated 32 deaths and more than 269 injuries in a two-year period. North and South Kashmir have recorded a high number of such incidents, with districts including Shopian frequently reporting encounters.
Pastoral communities, farmers working in apple orchards and children living or moving near forest fringes are among those considered particularly vulnerable. Repeated encounters with wild animals have also contributed to anxiety and psychological distress among affected residents.
Wild animals are increasingly entering human settlements due to the conversion of buffer zones, forests and agricultural land into residential colonies and commercial orchards, which fragments their natural habitats. Declining food availability in degraded forests can further push carnivores towards human habitation and livestock, while open garbage dumps near settlements can attract animals such as Asiatic black bears.
FOLLOW NOW
