Srinagar, May 20 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, people near the forests continue to live in fear because of increasing incidents of man-animal conflict which has claimed about 60 lives and injured more than 325 during the last three years in the Kashmir valley.

 
Border fencing, expansion of human population, disturbance in natural habitat and the heaviest snowfall are some of the reasons which have forced wild animals to migrate towards human dwellings in search of food.

In retaliation, villagers, not withstanding the protests of some animal lovers, killed about half a dozen wild animals in the valley during the past one-year.

The expert are of the view that the heaviest snowfall in more than two decades in the upper reaches has forced wild animals to come down in search of food, leading to conflict. They said that occupation of forest land by the Indian troops has disturbed the natural habitat of wild animals leading to incidents of man-animal conflict, which has now assumed alarming proportions in the valley.

The experts warned that such incidents would increase in the years to come if immediate measures were not taken to prevent human interference into the natural habitat of wild animals.