Locals in the mid-eastern parts of Dhanusha district have been at the receiving end of wild animals destroying their crops every day. Areas such as Ganeshman Charnath, Sahidnagar Yadukaha, Chireshwornath, Dhanusadham, Kamala, Bideha, among others, are most affected by the intrusion of wild animals. Wild horses, boars and monkeys in and around the area regularly enter the villages and destroy crops. Locals in these areas are especially in fear of wild boars, as they tend to attack humans and domesticated animals on their rampage.

Last month, a pack of wild boars attacked and injured over a dozen people in Kamala and Bideha municipalities. Some of the injured had to be rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.

“The wild boars destroyed potatoes that I had planted in my four kattha land,” said Sanjiv Mandal, of Bideha Municipality, adding that

the boars come in packs of 10-12 and tend to attack when the locals try to fend them off.

Locals believe the wild animals are entering human settlements in search of food and water following the recent forest fires in the Chure jungle. And despite the locals filing complaints at the police station, they say that the police have not taken any action. “The authorities have not taken any measures to control the wild animals or prevent them from entering our villages. We can’t harm the animals since that could land us in jail,” said Mandal.

Divisional Forest Officer Ashok Kumar Jha, acknowledging the recent rise in the incidents of wild animals entering human settlements in Tarai flatlands, said that since wild horses and boars are listed as wild animals it is illegal to kill them. Jha further said that although the Divisional Forest Office has informed higher authorities regarding the matter, no directives have been forwarded to the office yet. Ram Babu Singh, Chief Sub-Inspector of Area Police Office in Aurahi, said that since the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Forest their hands in the matter are tied.