Mumbai At a time when the entire nation’s attention is focused on the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, where eight cheetahs have been introduced from Namibia, the latest data shows that the neighboring state of Maharashtra ( The number of human casualties due to animal attacks in Maharastra has increased astonishingly. Quoting figures, Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that at least 47 people lost their lives in attacks by wild animals in 2019-20, 80 in 2020-21, and in 2021- 86 people died in 22.
Speaking on the incidents of human-animal conflict in the state, Maharashtra’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Sunil Limaye said that it is not so good but not so bad either. He said that this thing is for human understanding, not for animals. Humans continue to enter or encroach on wildlife areas despite clear instructions in areas adjacent to sanctuaries. Humans are taking more and more space from wildlife, and do not allow wild animals to use their corridors. Or even chase after them when they are seen, which leads to conflict, Limaye said.
He said that the government has deployed response teams to warn people against wandering in the forests, especially when wildlife is out, even rapid rescue teams in case of such tragedies save both humans and animals. Still, human-animal conflict is widespread in Maharashtra, said Kishore Rithe, wildlife conservationist and secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Rithe explained, people here face the most attacks from tigers, bears, leopards, wild boar, mainly due to humans entering their territory or animals roaming outside their areas for food. Reethe said that in the last few years, Maharashtra has been concerned about the increasing threat of elephants from neighboring Karnataka and Odisha. Elephants are wreaking havoc on fertile agricultural land and crops.
Elephants are now ‘migratory’, especially in the Konkan and parts of Vidarbha’s forests, spending three-four months a year here, adding to the complications for humans and other wild creatures, Reethe said. Both Limaye and Rithe called for an all-round strategy to reduce human-animal conflict, in which humans understand and respond to the needs of animals to avoid conflicts. Maharashtra has so far declared 52 wildlife sanctuaries/reserves across the state, with seven more to be added soon. Mungantiwar said that this would bring up to 13,000 sq km of area under protected areas – especially in areas adjacent to national parks/sanctuaries/reserves or the ‘Jungle Corridor’ connecting them. Also in a welcome move last month, the state government has announced an increase in the amount of compensation for damage caused to humans and cattle by wildlife attacks. (IANS)
