The man-animal conflict remains to be an increasing concern for the State in recent years. Depletions of dense forest areas have led to life and food insecurity of wild animals, elephants to the specific, observed Economic Survey presented in the State Assembly recently.
It viewed that death and injury of people and domestic animals, mass damages of houses and crops by elephants and other wild animals rose with serious concern.
During 2014-15, 99 people were killed, 27 injured , seven cattle killed, 1,139 houses and 15,181 hectare crop areas were damaged due to elephant attacks mostly in forests and forest adjacent villages/town of the State.
It further informed that 29 people died, 27 injured and 28 cattle died due to other wild animals’ attacks during the year.
The State Government had paid compensation amount of Rs17.06 crore to the families of animal attack victims and towards damages of houses and crops during the year. Out of total compensation, Rs15.81 crore was paid as compensation for houses damaged only by the elephants, the survey said.