Brown Bear Incident in Deosai Highlights Human-Wildlife Conflict
KARACHI: Wildlife experts say that wild animals generally do not attack humans intentionally. However, encounters can still turn dangerous, as seen in the recent incident involving singer Quratulain Baloch (QB), who was injured during filming in Deosai.
According to conservationist Vaqar Zakaria, the local brown bear is smaller than its Alaskan relative, but its sharp claws can cause serious injury. He suggested the bear may have been drawn by food and reacted to human noise, calling it a rare and isolated case.
Dr. Shafqat Hussain, Professor of Anthropology at Trinity College, noted that such incidents are not unexpected as human activity in natural habitats increases. He explained that bears often approach camps in search of food, adding that continued recreational activity in Deosai without precautions may lead to more encounters.
Experts stress that visitors should never feed wild animals, as this encourages them to lose their natural fear of humans. Zakaria emphasized that social media trends, selfies, and the availability of human food are among the reasons wildlife increasingly moves closer to people.
The Deosai Plains, a national park since 1993, cover 3,600 square kilometers and are home to brown bears, marmots, wolves, foxes, and diverse bird species. Over the years, tourist traffic has grown significantly, from just 20 jeeps daily in the 1990s to nearly 500 vehicles during peak season today.
Zakaria pointed out that people are entering wildlife territory rather than the other way around, often altering habitats through deforestation, unregulated grazing, and poor waste management. He warned that feeding animals such as marmots creates long-term ecological risks.
Conservationists recommend improved campsite management, better garbage disposal, and stricter controls on tourist activity to protect both visitors and wildlife. Education and awareness, they say, will be key to ensuring that natural ecosystems like Deosai remain safe for future generations.
