Lockdown period sees surge in man-animal conflicts this year
   Date :24-May-2020

tiger_1  H x W:
 
 
By Ramesh Marulkar :
 
Man-animal conflict cases are on the increase in Maharashtra, especially in Brahmapuri and Chandrapur jungles. This is evident from the official figures that as many 30 persons were killed in tiger, sloth-bear and other wildlife attacks in less than five months - From January 1, 2020 to May 20, 2020. A comparative study would reveal that 33 persons were killed in man-animal conflict in Maharashtra in 2018 while a total of 39 persons killed in 2019. However, the figure has reached to 30 till now this year. It seems that human transgration continued during coronavirus pandemic and lockdown period of two months. Some cases also occurred in agricultural fields situated close to jungle areas.
 
Out of 30 conflict cases, six occurred in Dhule, Nashik and Ahmednagar, where leopards and sloth-bears attacked and killed the persons, including three children while remaining 24 cases occurred in Vidarbha jungle areas. Chandrapur district tops the list by recording 14 cases at Brahmapuri, in and around Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and other territorial forest. Most of the cases occurred in jungle areas as the villagers go to jungle for collecting Mahua flowers, tendu leaves and other minor forest produce. The other ten cases are reported from Gondia, Bhandara, Amravati and other forest areas in Vidarbha. When contacted, Nitin Kakodkar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Maharashtra, said on Saturday that most of the cases of tigers, sloth bears and other animals occurred when villagers, including women, were collecting Mahua flowers early in the morning.
 
Lockdown has nothing to do with the people going inside jungle for collecting minor forest produce. Wild animals did not attack anybody by going to villages. Surprisingly, three cases happened in Gadchiroli district due to tiger attacks, particularly near Wadsa range, he added. In view of regular and untimely rains, there was no problem of water for animals to quench their thirst. Similarly, sufficient fodder is also available to herbivores inside jungle. However, prey base in Chandrapur and Brahmapuri areas is comparatively poor. Moreover, population of tigers has increased. There were only 160 tigers in Chandrapur district in 2019 and now considering a raise of 40 tigers the total number of tigers in this district has now gone up to 200, excluding tiger cubs.
 
The sub-adult tigers get separated from their mothers and move out for demarcating their territories. They are inquisitive and sensitive during this period because their prey base is not assured. Kakodkar pointed out that Forest Department took all the necessary steps to check man-animal conflict. Field staff members visit to villages for making public announcements and organising meetings of villagers to tell them not to go to this or that area due to movement of tiger. However, people continue to go inside the jungle for collecting minor forest produce and other materials, he pointed out. The Government give a compensation of Rs 15 lakh if a person is killed after attack by a wild animal in reserved and territorial jungle, except core area of tiger reserve.
 
The department implemented Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Jan Van Yojna providing them employment opportunities, employment opportunities and other facilities. Villagers have a realisation about this but they behave in this manner out of helplessness, Kakodkar said. The facilities are provided to villages under the above scheme in buffer areas and tiger corridor villages as well as under Sant Tukaram Van Gram Abhiyaan. The department has given cooking gas connections to almost every jungle in and around jungle. LPG is provided on 75 per cent subsidy basis to the people, besides solar lamps, toilets, water taps, skill development training, etc., with the main intention that they should reduce load on forest. Despite this, the cases are increasing surprisingly.