: As tigers return to Gadchiroli forests after 30 years, human-animal conflicts are on the rise #IndiaNEWS Until a few years ago, local communities in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli would have no fear going

As tigers return to Gadchiroli forests after 30 years, human-animal conflicts are on the rise #IndiaNEWS
Until a few years ago, local communities in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli would have no fear going inside forests to collect firewood, pick fruits, and cultivate their farms. Things, however, have changed drastically now. People in many villages are scared to commute to farms and even step out of their homes after dark. Reason: tigers are on the prowl. They are scared, panicked, and confused as the presence of tigers in Gadchiroli has come as a surprise. It is a new and unusual development for most of them.Human-tiger encounters Gadchiroli started witnessing human-tiger encounters four years ago. But there has been a sharp increase in encounters this year, with many turning fatal. At least 11 people have lost their lives in tiger attacks. The community members have so far refrained from attacking or killing tigers in retaliation and have asked the forest department to find a solution to the burgeoning problem, which holds the potential to escalate into a major human-animal conflict issue.The 14,412 sq km Gadchiroli district is rich in natural resources and has dense forest cover. It had over a hundred tigers around 50 years ago. However, the Naxalite movement of the 1970s weakened the conservation efforts, leading to rampant poaching and killing of tigers in...Read more

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