Wild Boar menace returns to Kashmir, paddy fields ravaged

Srinagar, Apr 29: Wild boars, largely unseen in Kashmir since the mid-1980s, have re-emerged across central and north Kashmir, damaging crops and raising concern among farmers and wildlife officials.
The animal, not native to the Valley has been sighted in Uri, Lachipora, Limber, Rafiabad, Zaingeer and parts of Bandipora, besides villages in Budgam. Farmers say the resurgence has intensified over the past few years, with a sharp spike in sightings this season.
For cultivators already hit by erratic weather, the boar has become a serious threat. Freshly sown paddy fields are being destroyed within days, pushing many into financial stress.
“We had just sown paddy saplings with hard work. Within days, everything is destroyed. Every morning we see our fields ruined,” Ali Mohammad, a farmer from Zaingeer Sopore, said.
Several farmers alleged that repeated complaints to authorities have not led to concrete action. Many have started guarding their fields at night, fearing total crop loss.
“Continued damage could force us to abandon cultivation this year,” said a farmer.
Officials said advisories are being issued to farmers regularly to help them protect crops and reduce risks.
In-charge Wildlife officer, Intisar Suhail attributed the resurgence to long-term climate shifts. He said the species, introduced during the Maharaja’s era around 80 to 90 years ago, had remained largely absent for decades.
“For the last 20 to 25 years, the climate has changed, so the population has revived,” Suhail said. He pointed to the animal’s high breeding rate, with two litters annually producing up to nine offspring, as a key factor behind the sudden rise.
The officer ruled out large-scale culling or translocation, citing logistical and legal challenges. “They are in hundreds and thousands. You cannot cull such numbers. This requires a policy decision at a higher level,” he said.
Suhail urged residents to take preventive steps, including fencing vulnerable agricultural land. He also advised people not to allow children to move in isolated areas where animal movement has been reported.
“This problem is not going to vanish. We have to tackle it in a coordinated manner,” he added.
Environmental activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat has urged immediate intervention by authorities, including Forest and Wildlife Minister Javed Rana and Chief Wildlife Warden Sarvesh Rai.
“These wild animals attack paddy crops at night and destroy entire fields. Farmers are frustrated and need urgent relief,” Bhat said.
Officials said a comprehensive study on the resurgence is underway, though no official population data is currently available. They acknowledged growing damage and said movement outside natural habitats is driven by food scarcity. (KNO)