Articles

Man Wild-Life Conflict in Katra (Jammu and Kashmir)

The study was carried out in two main blocks of Reasi district that is Panthal and katra and few villages prone to man-wildlife conflicts, namely: Manion, Kunya, Manoon, baniya, sool, kakryal, dadoora, Chak Bhagtha. As human population extends to wild animal habitats, Natural life territory is displaced. The population density of wildlife and human overlaps increasing their interaction thus resulting in increase physical conflict. Increase in the population results in decrease of the forest area. Majority of the people are living near the forest area and they are encroaching the area, they directly or indirectly interfering in the habitat of wild animals. Mostly the people of these villages are dependent on the agriculture; few have their owned business like shops. In the study area, the causative factors regarding these conflicts have been identified as natural attraction towards crop and scarcity of food. Monkeys have been found to be the most problematic animals, followed by leopard and bear.