"Increasing Man-Animal Conflict in the Tharuhat of West Champaran" says Yogendra Mahto a Tharu Tribe

"Increasing Man-Animal Conflict in the Tharuhat of West Champaran" says Yogendra Mahto  a Tharu Tribe

Today I got the opportunity to talk to Shri Yogendra Mahto Tharu Tribe of Tharuhat of West Champaran Bihar on mobile. Without going to Tharuhat I have been able to get the information about the Tharuhat - land of Tharu Tribe( Became Schedule Tribe in 2003). Yogendra Mahto, himself a teacher belonging to Bakhari Bazaar, was in Bankatwa village but he responded to my phone call. 

Bakhari Chowk, Ramnagar-Gobardhana Road,Tharuhat of West Champaran Bihar
Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

He informed that there has been an increase in  incidents of attacks of wild animals such as elephants, tigers, leopards, bison, bears in the near by villages. Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) is situated in the Western side of the Tharuhat and most of the Tharuhat is surrounded by forest. Elephant entered in the village of Manchangwa and killed a husband and wife, tiger killed a man in Gaunaha block in September 2018 and two tigress from VTR  have stricken fear in the adjoining villages. A leopard found in Bakhari Bazaar village also last year. 

Such incidents   have been attributed to man-animal conflict due to decreasing forest cover, increasing construction activities and rising number of wild cats. People of the region dare not venture into their fields, stopped singing and dancing, small celebrations muted.

Tharuhat of West Champran
Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Most of the Tharus of West Champaran live in villages amidst forest and are dependent on forest for their subsistence and survival. The Tharus create Bari (small garden) in their land consisting of variety of plants including medicinal. So they are very fond of forest and contribute in the protection of forest. They even domesticate animals such as cows, oxen, ducks, goats, cock/hen. But the scare of usual attacks of wild animals has disturbed their otherwise peaceful life thus affecting day-to-day activities.

Yogendra Mahto Tharu Schedule Tribe in his Village Bakhari Bazaar, Tharuhat West Champaran Bihar
Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Yogendra told that government should do something urgently to mitigate this man - animal conflict  for the survival and existence of both. Any amount of compensation can not be a substitute for the life lost.