UMAR RAINA
Drass, Mar 22, KNT: Himalayan Brown bears
killed 16 Pashmina goats in Drass Sub-Division of Kargil.
Local sources told news agency KNT that Himalayan Brown bears after hibernation strayed into the Troungjen Drass village from a nearby forest and entered the livestock shed of Mehrajuddin during the intervening night of March 21-22.
“We were scared at the presence of 3 bears. Efforts to chase them away through fire crackers didn’t materialize. They killed 16 pashmina goats and dragged them away,” said Mehrajuddin to KNT adding that massive snowfall was going on when the incident occurred.
He said there was blood everywhere and his family was frightened. “We were so scared that we thought brown bears might attack our children,” he said.
The owner of the livestock unit said that authorities instead of consoling us are demanding bodies of dead goats. “Where from we will get the bodies?” he questioned and thanked Wild Life Department for sending a team and expressing grief over the huge loss of livestock which is the only means of sustenance for them.
An official said that wildlife warden has been directed to assess the livestock loss for giving timely compensation and a corral pen to the family for protecting the remaining livestock. (KNT)