HC voices concern over rise in attacks on humans by wild animals

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court recently took into account the rise in the incidents of brutal attack on humans by wild animals, especially in the Vidharbha forests. The HC has accordingly asked the state government to take steps to protect lives of the field staff, which looks after the tigers.

A bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and Anil Pansare was hearing a PIL filed by

one Udayan Patil highlighting the issue, especially the death of a female guard last month in the Gadchiroli forest.

“Before the incident taken up in this petition, several such killings have occurred due to attacks on humans by wild animals, including tigers in the last three to four years,” the judges said while noting that around 54 people died in 2017, 33 in 2018, 39 in 2019 and 88 were killed in 2020. Notably, 52 people have been killed this year till now.

Having perused the data, the judges noted that stringent measures are required to be taken for protecting precious human life, as also the wildlife, as there is a direct connection between the two.

“If the wildlife feels safe and secure in terms of shelter, tranquillity and the availability of food, there would be lesser possibility of attacking human beings,” the bench said, adding, “If human beings feel safe and secure while in forests, there would be the least possibility of humans turning against the forests and wildlife.”

Terming it a wakeup call for the government machinery, forest officials and the civil society, the judges said “there is a need for creating an environment where both man and forests with wildlife peacefully co-exist; and if such conditions are not created, they need to be created soon”.