Experts warn that continued negligence by Maharashtra’s forest officials and obstruction of elephant corridors could lead to severe human-elephant conflict, mirroring the crisis already seen in Eastern Indian states
Experts believe that the Maharashtra Forest Department needs to monitor the tuskers to avoid potential conflicts between elephants and humans. Pic/ Ranjeet Jadhav
ME3, a tusker that crossed from Chhattisgarh into the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra earlier this month with another tusker, was sighted in Manapur village in the Wadsa division on Saturday. Experts believe that the Maharashtra Forest Department needs to monitor the tuskers to avoid potential conflicts between elephants and humans.
Sagnik Sengupta, co-founder of the NGO Stripes and Green Earth (SAGE) Foundation, commented, "This video of ME3 and the other tusker illustrates how unaware the Wadsa Forest Division is, as the movement towards Maharashtra on May 1 has already raised alarms in the Gadchiroli division. Despite last year's casualties, they have not taken these warnings seriously. Meanwhile, the herd's natural pathways are consistently obstructed, and just two nights ago, they entered Brahmapuri."
Sengupta further noted that despite offers to assist the Gadchiroli Circle and Wadsa Forest Division, the authorities appear unwilling to collaborate, choosing instead to act independently, which increases the risk of human-elephant conflict. He warned that if this trend continues, Eastern Maharashtra is likely to face similar challenges as other Eastern states experiencing high human-elephant conflict (HEC).
Woman mauled to death by tiger in Maharashtra's Chandrapur
A 65-year-old woman was mauled to death by a tiger in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district on Sunday morning, marking the fourth fatal attack by a big cat in the region in just two days, a senior forest official confirmed.
The victim, identified as Vimala Shinde, was a resident of Nagala village in the Mul tehsil of Chandrapur, reported PTI.
According to authorities, she had entered the forest early in the day to collect tendu leaves—a seasonal forest produce that is a major source of income for many villagers—when she was suddenly attacked by the tiger.
The gruesome incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, already reeling from a similar tragedy just a day prior.
On Saturday, in what officials have described as a highly unusual and alarming incident, a tiger claimed the lives of three women simultaneously, reported news agency PTI.
The attack occurred in Compartment No. 1355 of the Sindewahi Range Forest, an area known for tiger activity but rarely associated with such concentrated fatal encounters.
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