Srinagar, April 15 -- Srinagar-Kashmir is witnessing a troubling trend of increased sightings of wild animals, particularly leopards, venturing into human settlements. This has resulted in several tragic encounters, with two minor girls losing their lives to leopard attacks in the last month.

While locals accuse authorities of turning a blind eye to the growing human-wildlife conflict, officials blame unjustified human meddling into natural habitations for the rising attacks.

Officials said that wildlife is being impacted by climate change in a variety of ways, including habitat loss, altered migratory patterns, and declining population. They also attributed the influx of wild animals into human settlements to shifting weather patterns....