Karnataka records 31 deaths in 2022 due to attacks by wild animals

Mysuru: The conflict between wild animals and humans is one of the major challenges faced by the forest department in recent years. The state has recorded as many as 31 human deaths in 2022 due to attacks by wild animals, which is the highest in the last three years.
According to the information furnished by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai at the Belagavi assembly session in reply to a question raised by Hanur (Chamarajanagar district) MLA R Narendra, separate SoPs are followed to minimise the challenges posed by three big wild animals i.e. elephants, tigers, and leopards.

According to the data, the highest human deaths reported were from Sakleshpur taluk in Hassan, where four persons died in a wildlife attack. Kanakapura in Ramanagar district recorded three deaths. Mysuru district recorded five deaths in this period, including two deaths in a leopard attack, in T Narasipura taluk.
Wildlife activist Joseph Hoover alleged that pressure on the natural corridor of wild animals is to be blamed for the increase in the number of deaths. “We can’t blame animals for these deaths. Forest cover is shrinking. The roads, railway tracks are built inside the forest disturbing the natural habitat of the animals. The politicians are destroying the forest in the name of development. They are responsible for these deaths,” he said.
Animals don’t have natural food inside the forests as weeds are spreading inside the forest. These issues also need to be addressed, he said. Hanur MLA said, he asked the question because even after spending hundreds of crores both humans and the wild animals are not safe in our state. Wild animals continue to enter human habitat, and cause problems. The wild animals are also dying in snares, due to lack of food, territorial fights and electrocution.