Wild animals troubling Panchthar people

They are compelled to stay awake at night to protect cattle from the beasts

Phidim, October 24:

People of Ektin VDC beam when they see groups of deer, leopards with cubs and wild pheasants crossing the road. They cheer when male deer glance at passers-by. Former chairman of Ektin VDC Kamal Jawegu has spotted five leopards (Nigale) at a jungle in the Khunga area of Ektin VDC in Panchthar district.

However, all are not happy with the burgeoning number of wild animals. One Mainali family of Bharapa VDC-2 was preparing to leave home after deer and porcupine from the nearby Gudgude jungle invaded farmland and destroyed crops.

“These animals are set to drive us away from home,” housewife Gaura Devi Mainali said. Leopards devoured four nanny goats at Oyam VDC-2 Schooldanda. The leopards sneak into cages at night and leave in the morning after devouring their prey.

The situation has been like for the past three years.

They have been compelled to stay awake at night to protect their cattle and crops from wild animals. Residents of Oyam VDC-9 have found a noble way to tackle deer menace. They send dogs to chase these animals and stone them to death once they are unable to run further. They killed a deer this way just a few days ago. The villagers encircle jackals and kill them. A local said, “Applying this technique, we killed four jackals.”

A few years ago, the Maoists had seized all country-made pistols from the villagers. This move prevented the killing of wild animals and resulted in an increase in their number. Numerous pregnant deer were spotted trying to deliver babies in the past three years. “Listening to their barks in nearby jungles, we can estimate that their is a huge population of deer here,” said Rupmaya Gurung of Oyam Charibhanjyang.

Three community forests were instituted in six years in Ektin VDC alone. Altogether 122 community forests have been handed over to communities in Panchthar so far. All of them have significant population of wild animals. “Hunters used to kill at least two deer and reddish-black deer in a day. Nowadays, we seldom hear such news,” said 88-year-old Bir Bahadur Gurung, of Oyam VDC-4.

A ranger at the District Forest Office Rajendra Karna said his office has no official record of population of wild animals.