Gujarat: Analysing the spike in wildlife attacks on humans in Gir

Gir Somnath district, Gujarat, has recorded a surge in wildlife attacks on humans, and the latest man-animal conflict was reported when a two-year-old boy lost his life in a leopard attack.

The incident occurred on August 14 in Matana village, situated within the Veraval range forest, which is known to be home to several leopards. 

The infant was playing near his house when the leopard pounced, dragging him away.

The villagers recounted how the leopard had swiftly snatched the child and vanished into the wilderness.

In response to this devastating occurrence and the presence of leopards in the vicinity, authorities installed three traps to capture the elusive feline, and plans to set up three more soon.

It has been disclosed that within the past six months, at least six people have fallen victim to leopard attacks in the area.

This unsettling pattern of human-wildlife conflict is not unique to leopards. The region has also seen a considerable number of lion attacks resulting in fatalities and injuries. The statistics reveal that, on average, one human death per 100 lions and two deaths per 100 leopards have occurred over the past two years.

The alarming surge in lion attacks is concerning given the saturated population within the sanctuary and the increasing number of lions venturing into unprotected areas beyond its boundaries.

Data shows that human deaths caused by lions witnessed a dramatic 150 per cent increase from two in 2021 to five in 2022. However, the number of injuries slightly decreased by 9.5 per cent, going from 21 in 2021 to 19 in 2022.

Leopard-related human deaths, on the other hand, experienced a decline of 20 per cent, dropping from 15 in 2021 to 12 in 2022.

Similarly, injuries from leopard attacks also decreased by 20 per cent, with 105 injuries in 2021 compared to 84 in 2022.

Earlier, the government responded to these tragedies with financial compensation for the victims and their families. Compensation of Rs 33 lakh was provided for lion-related deaths and Rs 2.27 lakh for injuries. In the case of leopards, the state government allocated Rs 1.20 crore for compensation and Rs 12.33 lakh for the injured.