Preventable human deaths from conflict with wildlife

Timely identification of ‘problematic’ animals and engagement of communities in conservation efforts are vital.

The recent deaths of Ashika Bote and her young son in Jagatpur, Chitwan, following an attack by Dhurbe, an infamous male wild elephant that has killed 23 other people since 2010, have sent shockwaves through the country. Tragically, the same elephant had claimed the lives of two other people from Ashika’s family back in 2012 when they lived in the Madi area. This is a heartbreaking reminder that when humans and wildlife compete for the same space to live, the result is often devastating for both sides.