THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, April 21: In a rare incident of human-bison conflict, two women were killed and another injured in an attack inside the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Latehar district on Monday. The injured woman is currently undergoing treatment at MMCH, Daltonganj.
First Fatal Bison Attack in PTR History
Officials said that while instances of bison intimidating people or damaging vehicles have been reported in the reserve, no fatal attack on humans had been recorded since PTR’s establishment in the 1970s. The latest incident marks the first such case.
The incident occurred in the forests of the Barwadeeh block, where three women had gone to collect Mahua fruits. According to Range Officer Ajay Toppo, the women were attacked at different spots within the forest area.
Dogs’ Barking May Have Triggered Attack
Preliminary information suggests that two village dogs accompanying one of the women started barking after spotting a group of four bisons. The continuous barking may have agitated one of the animals, which then attacked the women. The dogs, however, remained unharmed.
Sources said that the deceased women were from Morwai Kala and Morwai Khurd villages, while the injured woman belongs to Lat village. In one case, a woman who initially appeared to have minor external injuries later succumbed.
Officials Confirm Incident, Probe Underway
PTR Field Director S. R. Natesha said the matter is under investigation. Forest officials are gathering details from the affected families and assessing the circumstances leading to the attack.
Wildlife experts note that bison-human conflicts are more commonly reported in tiger reserves across the Western Ghats, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra. The incident in PTR highlights emerging concerns over human-wildlife interactions in the region.
