Kashmir's Winter Woes: Bears & Birds Feel The Chill As Snowfall Takes A Backseat
Srinagar: The loss of anything of value strikes hardest, once it has lapsed into history. An old photograph of a snowclad Dachigam national park in Central Kashmir, and home to critically endangered Hangul, was uploaded by Former Wildlife Warden, and conservationist Tahir Shawl on his Facebook profile. The photograph brought home this truth. Yet, the loss barely stops with wistful nostalgia; the loss of snowfall is real, worrisome and manifold spread not just over the much-lamente
Changes
d horticulture and electricity generation, but also over less talked fisheries and wildlife.
Experts say that the low-pressure system over Himalaya is largely missing, not allowing westerlies to reach here. The pressure difference drives the moisture into Kashmir which has not happened till date. This is
linked
to global climatic change forcing an unusually dry winter. Even as the weatherman has forecasted snow over hills and later over plains from Thursday afternoon to
Altered Hibernation
January 31, the gaping snow deficit will remain, and thus the dangers occasioned by its absence will persist.
“The reduced precipitation
Impact On Migratory Bird Populations
over an extended period in temperate regions could have a profound impact on wildlife in
Kashmir Himalaya.
The scarcity of snowfall translates to lessened water levels in various water bodies, potentially leading to heightened stress among animals. While small bouts may not immediately pose
serious
threats, prolonged low water availability can exert pressure on the wildlife species,” Ecologist and founder of NGO, Wildlife Research and Conservation Foundation
Habitat Shrinkage For Fish (WRCF), Mehreen Khaleel told Kashmir Observer.
Khaleel said the unpredictable shifts in climate may further induce changes in animal behaviour.
Lowered Water Levels
“For instance, the decreased precipitation (rain/ snow) observed in recent years has influenced the hibernation patterns of bears, making them more visible during winter. The recent sightings of bear along with its cubs near Shankaracharya temple in Zabarwan range have only confirmed this misgiving portending disaster. This shift in climate conditions might also impact the number of migratory birds choosing places like Kashmir for winter breeding, driven by the scarcity of water in their usual habitats. Additionally, an early departure of these birds may occur due to rising
In Animal Behavior
Decline In Food Availability
Patterns