Rise in reporting of cases exposes Forest rule violation; 57% human deaths in 4 yrs

 

 

As the events of man-animal conflict increased enormously in Maharashtra, the human death count and injuries have also skyrocketed in recent years. As stated by a Right To Information (RTI) data released by State Forest Department to the activist Abhay Kolarkar, a total of 565 people were reported to have lost their lives in man-animal conflict in the 15 years between 2011 and 2025 (up to October 31, 2025). The most alarming revelation by the department was about 57% of these total deaths in 15 years were reported during last four years (2021 to 2025).

 

The year 2023 recorded the highest number of casualties in a year with 102 deaths. Even, about 51% of human injuries took place in the last four years. Human-wildlife conflict is a highly complex issue that is the amalgamation of ecology, human and wildlife behaviour, socio-economics, politics, and geography. “As the development works are on rise in the State, people are also breaking forest rules rampantly in recent years. Defying rules is the biggest reason behind man-animal conflict, which should be addressed by the Government,” Sunil Limaye, retired PCCF (Wildlife) told ‘The Hitavada’. “State Government increased the amount of compensation to victims and their families in recent years. Due to this development, people started reporting incidents of man-animal conflict frequently, which was less earlier,” claimed Limaye.

 

Reporting more number of incidents in recent years is another reason for sudden rise in number of deaths, injuries and the compensation, said the retired PCCF. “Government policies are based on mitigation of man-animal conflict, but how the department is implementing the policy is the biggest question,” Limaye added. As per the RTI data, in 565 human deaths in last 15 years, 323 casualties took place between 2022 and 2025 whereas remaining 242 happened between 2011 and 2021. Similarly, 5,477 human injuries also occurred in the last 15 years, in which 2,975 injuries happened in last four years and remaining 2,501 cases of injuries reported between 2011-2021. To compensate all type of losses, including death, injury, cattle death, cattle injury and crop loss due to man-animal conflict, the State Government paid around Rs 690 crore to victims and their families as compensation in last 15 years. Whereas, Rs 480.59 crore was paid in the last four years and remaining Rs 209.55 crore was paid between 2011 and 2021, stated the data.