Human-animal conflict: One person died in Tripura. With rampant deforestation, wild elephants are losing habitat leading to human-elephant conflict in Tripura
Enewstime Desk
Agartala, Marche 21, 2020: In another instance of human-animal conflict, one elderly person died in Tripura after three wild elephants trampled him today. The incident happened at Mungiyakami Forest area under Teliamur in Tripura.
The deceased was identified as Ganesh Biswas (62) – and he hailed from Natunbazar village of Krishnapur in Teliamura. Local sources said, the victim along with other villagers entered into Mungiyakami forest area to collect firewood. As other members scattered in the forest, a herd of three wild jumbos attacked Ganesh Biswas and trampled him. Later, he was taken to hospital where attending doctor pronounced him dead.
Human-elephant conflict in Tripura
Krishnapur area is prone to human-elephant conflict as wild jumbos often venture into villages and damage houses as well as crops. In last few months, elephant raids in villages created panic and people are spending sleepless nights anticipating jumbo raids.
With rampant deforestation, wild elephants are losing habitat fast giving rise to more incidences of human-elephant conflict in the area, one elderly person of Champly village in Krishnapur commented. “Growing human population coupled with large scale deforestation has resulted in loss of habitat for animals – elephants, in particular”, he said and said that people living in Baluchhera, Krishnapur, Champly, Watilong, Kapali Basti and Bhumiheen Colony were the worst victims of elephants raids. Jumbo attacks had left people suffer huge losses.
“However, there is no report of any human death due to such attacks in recent past”, another resident of Kapali Basti said.
Steps to curb human-animal conflict
In an attempt to curb human-animal conflict and save human lives and properties, Tripura Forest department set up a temporary post at Champly few months ago to scare away wild jumbos and prevent them from entering into villages. “The step has yielded positive results so far, however, as area under natural wildlife territory is shrinking fast, possibility of man-animal conflict remains high. Along with guarding the village borders with forest areas, it is necessary to preserve and protect wildlife territories”, local people of Kapali Basti commented.
Neighbours of ill fated Ganesh Biswas said, “We have no option, but to take risks and venture in to forest to earn a livelihood. While loss of habitat is one of the reasons man-animal conflicts, lack of livelihood options is another contributing factor in the conflict”.
