Sloth Bear Attack Injures Three Women in T.N., Sparks Resident Protest

Rapid Summary

• Incident: Three female farm workers were injured, with one seriously hurt, in a sloth bear attack on a farm near the Western Ghats foothills in Puliyangudi, Tenkasi district, on August 7, 2025.
• Details of attack: the sloth bear attacked the women while they were working at around 9 a.m. Other laborers rescued them using clubs and stones.

– Injured:
– Ramalakshmi (42) and Palaniammal (43): Sustained injuries; admitted to Puliyangudi Government Hospital.
– Seihu Ammal (48): Grievously injured; referred to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital due to critical condition.

• Protests: Farmers and residents blocked traffic along the busy Tenkasi-Madurai highway for an hour to condemn the Forest Department’s alleged failure in addressing repeated wildlife invasions into farms.
• Recurring issue: Farmers reported frequent crop damage and injuries from wild animal incursions involving species like wild boars, sloth bears, and Indian Gaurs. They demanded measures such as solar electric fencing to prevent further incidents.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The sloth bear attack highlights escalating man-animal conflicts in areas adjoining forest regions like the Western Ghats. This incident not only underscores risks posed to human life but also emphasizes recurring challenges faced by farmers due to wildlife intrusions leading to injury and crop loss. Protests signal frustration toward perceived institutional inefficiencies by authorities responsible for mitigating such conflicts.

Steps like installing solar-powered fencing proposed by farmers could help reduce tensions while protecting livelihoods without harming wildlife populations-an approach aligning with sustainable coexistence principles crucial for biodiversity conservation near ecologically sensitive zones.Effective collaboration between local management, the Forest Department, and farming communities is imperative for addressing these issues comprehensively before further escalation of conflicts occurs.

Read more here: The Hindu