Uttarakhand Bans Trail Hunting Amid Rising Animal Attacks

By John Pranay (Editor)

A new animal welfare strategy in India's Uttarakhand state aims to curb the rise in human-wildlife conflicts by banning trail hunting and establishing wildlife sterilisation centres. The move comes as authorities report a significant increase in animal attacks, with at least 15 people killed and over 50 injured in the past year. The strategy also seeks to empower local rangers with enhanced training and equipment to handle wildlife encounters.

In recent years, the Indian state of Uttarakhand has witnessed a surge in human-wildlife conflicts, primarily driven by the increasing presence of wild animals in areas inhabited by humans. The situation has been exacerbated by the growing popularity of trail hunting, a practice where hunters pay to track and kill wild animals. Local residents, however, have long been vocal about the dangers posed by this activity, citing instances of wild animals being pushed into their villages in search of food. The state government's decision to ban trail hunting is seen as a crucial step towards mitigating these conflicts.

• 2020: The Uttarakhand government reports a significant increase in human-wildlife conflicts, with at least 10 people killed and over 20 injured.

• 2022: The state government launches a campaign to educate local residents about the dangers of trail hunting and the importance of coexisting with wildlife.

• 2023: The number of human-wildlife conflicts continues to rise, with at least 15 people killed and over 50 injured.

• December 2025: The Uttarakhand government announces a new animal welfare strategy, including the ban on trail hunting and the establishment of wildlife sterilisation centres.

The issue of human-wildlife conflicts in Uttarakhand is not new. In 2019, the state government faced widespread criticism for its handling of a similar situation in the Nanda Devi National Park, where a group of trekkers were killed by a wild animal. The incident led to a renewed focus on the need for effective measures to prevent such conflicts. While the current strategy is seen as a positive step, experts caution that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the problem.

The ban on trail hunting and the establishment of wildlife sterilisation centres are expected to have a significant impact on the local community. However, some experts have raised concerns about the potential risks associated with the strategy, including:

• Increased costs for the state government to implement and maintain the sterilisation centres

• Potential negative impact on local economies that rely on tourism and hunting

• Uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness of the sterilisation programme in reducing human-wildlife conflicts

This move by the Uttarakhand government highlights the growing recognition of the need for more effective measures to address human-wildlife conflicts. However, it also underscores the complexity of the issue, which requires a multifaceted approach that takes into account the needs of both humans and wildlife. Crucially, this overlooks the need for more sustainable and long-term solutions that address the root causes of the problem, such as habitat loss and fragmentation. By prioritising short-term fixes, the government risks creating a false sense of security, which may

Overall, the medium-term sentiment around this story is Neutral.

1. Uttarakhand to set up wildlife sterilisation centres, empower rangers amid rise in animal attacks — https://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttarakhand-wildlife-sterilisation-centres-empower-rangers-rise-animal-attacks-10431431/

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.