Human-animal conflict on the rise in Chhattisgarh, slot bear attacks five including minors

Korba-Day after three persons were trampled by a tusker in north Chhattisgarh, in yet another incident of human-animal conflict, four minors and an elderly person were attacked by sloth bear, leaving them severely injured in forests of Kartala in Korba district. It is feared that the elderly man may lose his eyes due to the attack while he undergoes treatment.

Recently three persons including a deputy forest ranger were mauled by a sloth bear in Mahasamund district and later, it was shot dead.

The incident took place at Kartala region where Gadaram, 70, who was going to neighbouring village was attacked by cloth and he sustained severe eye and head injuries. He was rushed to hospital and was later referred to Bilaspur hospital for better treatment. Forest department had however, sanctioned immediate relief of Rs 2500 to the elderly man.

At Barbaspur region four minor girls and boys who went into forest to collect mahua fruits were attacked by two sloth bear but as all of them raised an alarm, following which the bear ran into the jungle.

Common resources for human-animal: One is dominating, another intelligent

The attacks usually increase during summer in conflict of mahua fruit or when animals venture to residential areas in search of water. According to Jamwant and Gajaraj project worth crores of rupees, forest is supposed to arrange proper habitat for bear and elephants to limit their movement to forests. In 2015, it was decided that more number of fruit trees would be planted and water bodies would be constructed at identified zones of their movement and that are prone to attacks.

As per forest department's data Chhattisgarh's 45 villages are under man versus wild attack while patches in Sarguja and Kanker are mostly under threat. More than 50 people died in last few years in wild bear attack while there were many unreported cases of deaths and killings of bear and elephants too.

Many students in Mahasamund district resist going to school in fear of wild animals. Mainly the students of senior classes who have to travel via isolated routes or cross forests to reach schools have started quitting schools in fear of elephants and bear.

Turning a blind eye

The incidents have taken a toll lately while state forest department turns a blind eye towards incidents. Though there was an inquiry ordered in recent killing of sloth bear in Mahasamund, but nor report has been submitted despite reaching the deadline.

Senior forest officials either refuse to comment on the issues or never answer the calls while others explain that all the victims get their due compensation and state government was spending crores to provide relief to them.

Wildlife expert demands forest department to fix no-go area

Reason that experts quote for laxity on government's part to deal with issue is that large part of forest divisions with elephant presence (accounting to more than 30 % of human deaths and crop damage) has been identified as sites for mining.

Talking to Eagle of India reporter a wildlife activist said, "Government doesn't wish to reserve any patch of forests for bear or elephants because they are mostly found on the mining and coal reserve spots. Due to their commercial benefits, they wish to leave the place as it is. There's this urgent need to mark patches for humans and animals strictly a no-go area for humans."