Uttarakhand: Forest Dept to Escort Students as Animal Attacks Surge

• Uttarakhand faces a surge in human-animal conflict, with over 150 attacks by Himalayan bears and leopards reported, leading to 14 deaths since September.
• The Forest Department will escort students in affected areas, starting in Pauri Garhwal, due to increased predator sightings and fear among schoolchildren.
• Authorities have increased compensation for victims to ₹10 lakh and shut 48 government schools in response to the attacks.
• Political pressure has led to calls for central assistance and measures like penalizing hotels for waste dumping and distributing whistles to villagers.
• A debate on long-term solutions includes considering sterilization for leopards and bears, following a pilot project in Maharashtra.

Why It Matters: Escalating human-animal conflict in Uttarakhand endangers lives, forcing new safety measures.