841 deaths from animal attacks in three years: Prakash Javadekar in Lok Sabha

Union Minister of State for Environment Prakash Javadekar said in a reply in Lok Sabha said that as many as 841 people lost their lives after getting attacked by animals in last three years.

"Incidents of loss of human lives and damage to crops by wild animals are reported in various parts of the country from time to time. The reports received by National Tiger Conservation Authority and Project Elephant indicate that 72 human deaths have occurred due to elephant and 769 due to tigers," he said.

The data in connection with human-animal conflict pertains to the period 2012-15. Data for the current year is not available.

The minister said that state governments provide ex gratia relief in respect of damage to crops and loss of human lives suffered by the victims of attacks by wild animals.

"The ministry issued an advisory to the states highlighting the legal provisions under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to deal with the human-wildlife conflict situations.

"The ministry has also sought proposals from states and Union Territories with details of the areas in which notification under Section 62 of Act, declaring any wild animals as vermin for specific period, could be helpful in management of conflict," he said.

-PTI