Over 900 lives lost since 2000

Attacks by tigers, leopards, bears and other animals has claimed more than 900 lives in Uttarakhand in the last 25 years, highlighting alarming levels of human-wildlife conflict in the hilly state, according to government data.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

The latest such incident occurred on Thursday when a 45-year-old man was killed in a leopard attack in Gajald village in Pauri a district that has seen the highest animal attack cases, prompting its administration to take several measures.

According to government data, human-wildlife conflict has claimed over 900 lives in Uttarakhand over the past 25 years with leopard attacks claiming 548 lives, elephant attacks 230 lives, tiger attacks 106 and bear attacks 70.

Snakebites claimed 260 lives in the state during this period, the data showed.

Meanwhile, 2,127 people were injured in attacks by leopards, 2,013 injured in bear attacks, 234 in elephant attacks and 1,056 were injured due to snake bites, it stated.

According to experts, leopard attacks are seen in almost every part of the state throughout the year, with bear attacks peaking between October and December.