Human death toll on rise as funds to mitigate man-animal conflicts shrink

THE toll of human deaths due to animal attacks has seen a steady rise in the last five years, even as the funds to mitigate such conflicts have dwindled.

- JITENDRA CHOUBEY

In last five years, the Central government has cut the funds to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts by 67 per cent. The Wildlife Habitat Development Funds, which is meant for protection and restoration of animal habitats, was reduced by two-thirds. Funds under Project Tiger was cut by 50 per cent.

Consequently, the number of human deaths due to encounters with tigers and elephants have gone up, data shows.