Now Reading: Uttarakhand saw 46% of human-wildlife conflict deaths since 2020
-
01
Uttarakhand saw 46% of human-wildlife conflict deaths since 2020
A new study by Professor Vishwambhar Prasad Sati of Mizoram University reveals that 438 of 954 human-wildlife conflict deaths in Uttarakhand since 2000 occurred between 2020 and 2025, nearly 46% of fatalities.…
The Story in Brief
A new study by Professor Vishwambhar Prasad Sati of Mizoram University reveals that 438 of 954 human-wildlife conflict deaths in Uttarakhand since 2000 occurred between 2020 and 2025, nearly 46% of fatalities. The state also recorded 2,335 injuries in the same period. Fatalities peaked at 84 in 2024, and injuries at 512 in 2024. In 2025 alone, 68 people died and 488 were injured. Leopards caused the most deaths (548 over 25 years), followed by elephants (230) and tigers (106). Bear attacks killed 70 but injured 2,013 people, with a noted rise in 2025. Pauri district recorded the highest fatalities at 53, followed by Almora (47) and Tehri (36). Sati called for district-specific conservation measures, secure wildlife corridors, and faster response systems instead of uniform policies.
The Indian Opinion
The familiar script of blaming only stray animals or citing forest cover expansion ignores the core issue: 438 people dead and 2,335 injured in six years demand more than compensation. Leopards alone killed 548 people in 25 years, mostly in Pauri and Tehri, not remote jungles. The conflict is uneven, plains face elephants, hills face bears, yet policy remains one-size-fits-all. Watch whether the state funds district-specific corridors and rapid response teams, not just another advisory.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
