1158 human die due to tiger, elephant attacks in last two years (New Delhi)
1158 human die due to tiger, elephant attacks in last two years (New Delhi)
Jitendra Choubey, The New Indian Express
March 14, 2023
The number of human deaths due to attacks by tigers and elephants has risen
in the last two years across several states.
In response to a question, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest
and Climate Change (MoEFCC) shared detailed data on human-wildlife
conflict, which cause the deaths of humans.
The most significant number of deaths of humans due to attacks by tigers
took place in Maharashtra (116) followed by Uttar Pradesh(25), West
Bengal(6), Bihar(6), Uttarakhand(5) and Tamil Nadu (3) in the past two
years i.e. 2021 and 2022. In the same period, Karnataka witnessed the
deaths of two persons, and Madhya Pradesh had one casualty.
In 2021, the number of human deaths in Maharashtra was 32, which increased
to 84 in the subsequent year 2022. Uttar Pradesh witnessed 11 deaths in
2021 which increased to 14 deaths in 2022. In Uttarakhand, the deaths of
humans increased from one to three in the same period.
However, there are decreasing trends in tiger attack-related deaths in the
rest of the states. Tamil Nadu reported three deaths in 2021 which reduced
to zero in 2022. Bihar’s casualty death was reduced from four to two in the
same period.
Besides tigers, Elephants too caused deaths to a large number of humans.
The largest number of human deaths caused by elephants took place in
Jharkhand (217) followed by Odisha(205), Assam(154), West Bengal (124),
Chhattisgarh (106), Tamil Nadu (94), Kerala (45), Karnataka (40), Meghalaya
(8), Tripura (3), Arunachal Pradesh (2) and Uttar Pradesh (1) in the past
two years.
In some states, human deaths by elephant attacks have registered an
increasing trend. These states are Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Odisha
and West Bengal.
MoEFCC has provided funds under centrally sponsored schemes for activities
related to wildlife management and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict.
However, the ministry has sanctioned only Rs 6.06 crores to the Kerala
government for the development of Wildlife Habitats for human-wildlife
conflict mitigation activities, including installation and maintenance of
solar power fences.
Deaths caused by tigers
2021: 57
2022: 106
Deaths caused by elephants
2021: 461
2022: 534