Brown bears & Ibex rendering losses to farmers in Lahaul Spiti: Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu informed the state assembly on Monday that Brown Bears, Ibex, and other wild animals are rendering losses to crops of farmers in the Lahaul Spiti district of the State.

In reply to a written query raised by Congress member Ravi Thakur Chief Minister said that some losses have been incurred and damage caused to agriculture and horticulture crops by the Brown Bear, Ibex, and other wild animals in Apples, Peas, exotic villages Ghushal, Jobrang, Tindi vegetables in village Chicham and Kibber of District Ghushal, Jobrang, Tindi, Lahaul & Spiti. The Chief Minister said that these damages are Chichem and Kiber by wild animals like bears, Monkeys, Ibex, and others, however not very significant.

The Chief Minister said that There is no provision in the Forest Department to compensate the farmers for their crop losses. Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (Spiti Valley). In collaboration with local people has set up Crop Depredation Squads to prevent and mitigate crop damage by wild animals. These Crop Depredation Squads engage with local people to protect the crop from Wildlife.