Chhattisgarh’s human-wildlife conflict: 595 lives lost in 11 years

Chhattisgarh is witnessing a troubling rise in human-wildlife conflicts, with tragic outcomes for communities across the region. Over the past 11 years, 595 people have lost their lives, an average of 54 fatalities annually, highlighting the urgent need for effective mitigation strategies.
The latest incident occurred in the Surguja district, where two young children from the Pando tribe fell victim to a nocturnal elephant attack. Dishu, 11, and his sister Kajal, 5, were killed when a herd of elephants trampled their hut. Their parents escaped the assault, but the children were crushed to death.
Authorities have confirmed the incident and sent the bodies for postmortem. The grieving family has received initial ex gratia compensation, with additional support expected following formalities.
This incident once again underscores the severity of human-elephant conflicts in Chhattisgarh.
Districts like Surguja, Raigarh, Korba, Surajpur, Mahasamund, Dhamtari, Gariyabandh, and Balod are particularly affected. Data from the wildlife department reveals that the rate of fatalities has surged, with 95 deaths in 2021-22 and 77 deaths in each of the past two years. So far in 2024, human-wildlife conflicts have claimed about 10 lives.
The state’s efforts to mitigate these encounters have seen limited success. The chilli technique, which uses chilli smoke to deter elephants, has proven inadequate and may even provoke aggression, further endangering communities. Wildlife experts and conservationists stressed the need for improved, humane methods to address the human-wildlife interface effectively.
Immediate action is essential to safeguard both residents and the wildlife that shares these landscapes.