KOLHAPUR: On Saturday night, the bison that had left Kolhapur city and was walking back towards the rural areas, turned aggressive during an encounter with people in the Bhuyewadi village area. While one man was killed, two others were injured.
As per the preliminary information, the villagers had started chasing the animal to shoo it away from the sugar cane fields. The bison then charged at the crowd. A 21-year-old named Sourabh Sambhaji Patil died after being impaled by the animal's horn. Two others -- Pralhad Pandurang Patil (55) and Shubham Mahadev Patil (21) -- were injured.
Earlier, the bison had returned to Kolhapur city on Friday evening after some miscreants had thrown stones at it in the Laxmitirth Vasahat area. However, later in the night, the bison had taken the Panchaganga ghat-Shivaji bridge route to move towards the Vadange village. The animal took the main Kolhapur-Ratnagiri highway to walk amidst vehicular traffic and onlookers.
Devendra Bhosale, a member of the wildlife protection and research society said, “The bison had gone towards the farmlands on Friday evening. However, the animal returned after some miscreants threw stones at it. The animal was back within the city limits around 11pm. It then started moving towards the Shivaji bridge via Panchaganga ghat. Even though the traffic was heavy, the animal continued walking and then cut through sugar cane farms to reach Vadange. It then continued with its journey further. Our group followed the bison till 2.30am to ensure its safe passage. Only after making sure that the bison had safely left the urban areas did we return.”
Bison researcher and expert Datta Morse said, “When a bison leaves the forest and enters the farmland, its smelling power is reduced due to pesticides sprayed on the crops. If miscreants somehow spook it, the animal starts running wherever it can and may often enter urban areas. In a group, the animals stay calm. However, when a lone bison gets separated from the group, there are chances of it getting aggressive. If people make loud noises, burst crackers or throw stones at such an animal, then the situation can turn dangerous for the animal as well as humans. I request every one to not disturb animals. A bison can return to the forest on its own if no nuisance is created by humans.”
