Palamur hotbed of man-animal conflicts

Mahbubnagar: With depleting forests and increased instances of humans disturbing the habitats of wild animals, man-animal conflict is becoming a growing problem in Mahbubnagar in the recent times. The recent incidents of wild bears attacking two farmers in Achempeta mandal, wild boars destroying the maize and paddy crops in Kollapur mandal and wild Cheetahs attacking cows, goats and lambs in Devarkadra mandal point to the growing danger.

• Wild animals venturing outside the forest in search of food and water are attacking farmers and milch animals
• A farmer has recently been mauled by a bear

The trend can be mainly attributed to the indiscriminate destroying of forests and natural habitats of these animals. It has led to wild animals venturing into the human habitats for food and water. Recently, a farmer, Bodiya Nayak, who ventured into the nearby forest areas of Chowdarpally for procuring wood, was fatally attacked by a wild bear.

In another case, another farmer, Boya Venkataiah, who erected a fence to trap and scare away the wild boars destroying his paddy and maize crops, was attacked by a bear. “The crops in the surrounding areas of forests are being destroyed by wild pigs, deer and peacocks. “To scare wild animals off we have erected fence and traps. But unfortunately a bear was trapped. As soon as the farmer approached it, thinking it might be a wild boar, it suddenly attacked him,” said Rajivinder Goud, an eyewitness to the incident.

However, the villagers alerted the forest officials, who immediately swung into action and captured the bear and shifted it to the Jawaharlal Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad. Not just these cases, there have been incidents of tiger, cheetah and leopards attacking cows, goat and buffalo during nights. Recently, a wild cat attacked a calf in Yedira during night. And in another incident a cheetah killed a deer at a temple in KottaThanda area near Bontagutta reserve forest.

“In fact, wild animals do not come into the open unless they are deprived of their habitat or disturbed due to non-availability of water and food. However in the recent past, scorching summer, and lack of water have forced these animals to venture outside forests in search of food and water. Particularly, the farmers near the forest should be careful and avoid going into the forests for wood,” said Mahender Reddy, Forest Range Officer.

By A Raju