VISAKHAPATNAM: The NCRB’s ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides’ data has found that 31 people were killed by animals in Andhra Pradesh in 2018. There were 25 human casualties in 2019 and 32 people were killed by animals in 2020. Further, the state has been recording at least 30 human casualties in conflicts with elephants, bears and wild boars a year for the last few years.
This has brought to the fore the intensity of human-animal conflict in some parts of the state.
Though the NCRB report did not specify which animal was responsible for the most human casualties in the state, the forest department officials claimed that elephants and bears are the biggest killers in some districts in the state, and two to three districts in the state are in the grip of man-animal conflicts.
Recently, a bear had killed a farmer and severely injured six others besides attacking some cattle near Kidisingi in Vajrapukotturu mandal of Srikakulam district. The bear was tranquilised and captured by the forest team, but the wild animal died on its way to Vizag zoo.
The shrinking forest cover in parts of the state has not only increased the man-animal conflict but has also resulted in casualties on both sides.
A herd of four elephants is moving around in Srikakulam district and a herd of six elephants in Parvathipuram Manyam district. The foray of wild elephants into human habitations from Koundinya wildlife sanctuary at Palamaner and Kuppam ranges in Chittoor district has become a regular phenomenon.
Some activists blamed the government policy of assigning forest land for various purposes which leads to man-animal conflicts. “Human casualties have been reported in attacks by elephants and wild boars in the forest areas. Can we ask the wild animals not to walk in the forest areas?” activists questioned.
Chief conservator of forests (Vizag region), P Ram Mohan said they are chalking out plans to form response teams with locals to deal with the rising man-animal conflicts in some districts. “The teams, on receiving an emergency call, will rush to the spot and neutralise the situation,” he added.
