With news of increasing human-animal conflict out every day, an incident from Chitradurga, Karnataka has shocked everyone. A bear was beaten by villagers in presence of forest officials after it strayed inside the human habitat. With the bear climbing a tree to protect itself, the villagers burnt the tree so as to burn the bear too.
All these things happened while the forest officials were mute spectators to the crime. Both beating an animal is illegal and setting a tree inside the forest on fire is illegal too, reported Mirror Now. The forest officials reportedly failed to register a case against any person related to the incident. The bear then fell from the tree and suffered injuries, both due to the fall and fire. Reportedly, the bear was released inside the forest later. The visuals might be too graphic for viewers. Please watch at your discretion.
The Logical Indian Take
In the last couple of weeks, many reports have come which shows the increased risk for both humans and animals due to the rising human-animal conflict. Last week, a leopard was beaten to death after it killed a man that wandered into the forest at his own risk.
India’s growing population has confined wildlife to the ever-shrinking forests and grasslands. Reports have come out which show that between the years 2014-2017, one person lost his/her life every day because of the human-animal conflict.
The growth of human settlement is considered an economic development, but it is the animals who are paying a heavy price as they are competing with humans for food and shelter. Wildlife experts have said that territorial animals lack space within reserves and their prey also lack enough fodder to survive on. This forces wild animals to move out and venture close to human habitations in search of food.
We have started to change the natural wildlife ecosystem and started habitation in wildlife areas. It is us who are encroaching on their land. They are animals and they don’t know any better. They depend on their natural instincts to survive. There needs to be more awareness about the human-animal conflict and on sustainable development.
Also Read: Monkey Menace: Two People Killed In Agra On Same Day; Monkey Population Reaches 50,000
