Nagpur: Year 2021 proved bad from the point of view of human-animal conflicts for tigers, leopards, and humans as well.
With 7 days to leave during the end of the year, 81 people, 41 tigers and 174 leopards have died this year.
The conflict has deteriorated, acknowledging Maharashtra PCCF (wildlife) Sunil Limaye.
Despite the claim of the Department of Forest, 29 Tigers and 153 leopards have died this year, according to data compiled by Indian Wildlife Protection (WPSI), a NGO working to overcome the country’s wildlife crisis, victims in Maharashtra are 41 tigers and 174 Leopard.
WPSI data also includes the latest hunting cases where the large cache of Tiger and the leopard’s body parts are confiscated from at least 80 hunters and accused by forest officials in the region.
It is the second year in a row when human death in wild animal attacks crosses more than 80, although a little less than 2020 when 88 people have died.
According to the Ministry of Forestry State, from 81 human killings, Chandrapur 44 and neighbors Gadchiroli 16 contributed 60 deaths combined.
Of the 60 victims, 47 were persecuted by tigers and 10 by temporary leopards were attacked by elephants and wild boar.
Nashik has reported 9 deaths in the Leopard attack.
Nagpur also reported 3 fatal attacks by tigers and 1 by leopards.
Two people also died in Yavatmal because of a tiger attack.
Not only humans are vulnerable to attacks, but tigers and leopards also experience great victims as a result of conflict.
Of the 41 tiger deaths recorded by WPSI, 20 died of hunting, 12 was found dead, 2 died in an accident on the road, and 7 died in a dispute.
Likewise, of the 174 leopard deaths, 89 was found dead, 26 scheduled for hunting, 28 died in a road and train accident, 20 in a fight and the remaining death was caused by a local village population attack and was killed during rescue operations.
In accordance with the All India Tiger & Leopard Estimation-2018, the tiger numbers in Maharashtra increased from 190 in 2014 to 312 in 2018 and around 350 now.
Likewise, the leopard number has increased to 1,690 in the state, which is the third largest in the country.
Therefore, the conflict will not end unless there is a strong enforcement plan to hold it back.
“The two-state wildlife council committee has submitted a report and we are at work to implement it by creating awareness among locals in various ways.
But most importantly, we can reduce problems if people maintain restraints by not disturbing the space occupied by large carnivores.
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