65-year-old man injured in bear attack in Anantnag’s Ashmuqam

The man, identified as Mohd Yousuf, a resident of Khayar village in Hapatnard, was attacked by a wild bear. He was shifted to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Seer Hamdan for initial treatment and later referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag for further treatment.

Meanwhile, locals have urged the authorities to take preventive measures to prevent further bear attacks and ensure the safety of residents in the area.

According to the Wildlife Protection Department’s submission to the National Green Tribunal, more than 17,200 human–wildlife conflict incidents were reported in Jammu and Kashmir between 2020 and mid-2025, resulting in nearly 1,100 injuries and over 100 deaths.

Habitat loss, shrinking forests, fragmented wildlife corridors and the availability of food waste near human settlements are among the factors contributing to encounters between people and wild animals.

Rural and forest-fringe communities are particularly vulnerable to such incidents. Measures such as habitat conservation, proper waste disposal, public awareness, early-warning systems and timely assistance to affected families are important for reducing human–wildlife conflict while protecting both residents and wildlife.