A tragic wildlife encounter has claimed the life of an elderly farmer in Kolhapur district, highlighting the growing human-animal conflict in the region. An 82-year-old man succumbed to injuries sustained in a ferocious attack by a gaur, also known as the Indian bison.
Fatal Attack on Elderly Farmer
The victim, identified as Banda Khot, a resident of Kisrul village in Panhala tehsil, was attacked on Friday evening. The incident occurred around 4 pm when Khot had gone to his Khaparmala farm to collect fodder. When he failed to return home, concerned family members launched a search. They discovered him in the field at approximately 8:30 pm, critically injured.
He was rushed to CPR Hospital for urgent medical care. Despite treatment, the elderly farmer could not survive his severe wounds and passed away on Saturday night. Panhala range forest officer Ajit Mali confirmed that the farmer sustained extensive injuries to his chest, stomach, and legs, which led to profuse bleeding and ultimately caused his death.
Banda Khot is survived by his wife, two sons, and a married daughter. Forest authorities have completed the panchnama (spot inspection report) of the incident. Officer Mali stated that the family of the deceased will receive compensation after the postmortem reports are finalized.
Forest Staff Face Immediate Danger
In a startling follow-up, the same aggressive gaur posed a threat even to forest department personnel. When staff, including forest guard Rajendra Rasal, visited the incident site to conduct the panchnama, the bison suddenly emerged from nearby bushes and attempted to charge at them. The team had to defend themselves against the unexpected assault.
Following this dangerous encounter, forest workers have been deployed in the area with the specific task of driving the animal away from farmland and back towards safer forested zones to prevent further attacks.
Second Gaur Attack Injures Forest Worker
In a separate but related incident underscoring the tense situation, another individual was attacked by a gaur in the district on Saturday early morning. The victim, Shankar Sakharam Sukhye, a forest worker and resident of Buzawde in Chandgad tehsil, was injured during an operation.
Forest officials had received information about a gaur's presence in the Akkacha Ala farm located between Bamankiwadi and Nandure. A team went on patrol to divert the animal towards forest areas. During this effort, the bison turned on Sukhye and attacked him.
He received initial primary treatment at the rural hospital in Chandgad. Due to the seriousness of his injuries, he was subsequently referred and admitted to KLE Hospital in Belagavi for further advanced treatment. His current condition is being monitored.
Rising Concerns Over Human-Wildlife Conflict
These back-to-back incidents within a short span in Kolhapur district have raised serious concerns about the increasing frequency of human-gaur conflicts. The gaur, the world's largest bovine and a protected species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, is increasingly venturing into human habitats, often leading to tragic consequences.
Key factors contributing to such conflicts include:
- Habitat fragmentation and loss pushing animals towards farms.
- Search for food and water, especially in fringe areas.
- Increased human activity near forest boundaries.
The forest department's efforts to shoo away the problematic animal and the promise of compensation for the victim's family are immediate steps. However, these tragic events call for a more sustained and long-term strategy to manage wildlife corridors, implement early warning systems, and foster community-based conservation efforts to ensure the safety of both humans and animals in the region.
