Team Herald
PONDA: Panic has gripped the villagers of Bondbaag, Bethora, after a herd of about seven bisons were spotted roaming in their residential area.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
People say that they now spend sleepless nights and also fear that their plantations and property will be destroyed by the wandering herd.
This comes just three months after a fatal wild bison attack in October last year, when a woman lost her life after mistaking a wild bison for a buffalo and attempting to drive it away. “We still remember the tragic incident and now, with the bison herds returning, we are terrified to go out after nightfall,” said Mangaldas Gaude, a local resident.
The herds, consisting of seven to eight bison, enter the village as darkness falls spreading fear around. “We no longer go outside at night, as we fear the bison may attack us,” said another villager and added that they were spending sleepless nights.
The village, located near forested areas, is seeing increasing encounters with wild bison. Locals believe the animals are being attracted by discarded food waste, such as garbage and rotten vegetables, which some people leave along the isolated roads leading into the village. “The bison come to feed and often roam not only through backyards but also along the main road, creating a frightening atmosphere,” explained Sadanand Gaude, a local villager.
It is worth noting that after the tragic attack in October last year, the forest department took measures to prevent such incidents, including digging trenches for one kilometre at the edge of the village. However, locals believe these measures have not been sufficient, as the herds continue to venture into the area. “The trenches didn’t stop the bison from entering,” said one local. “We need the forest department to drive the animals back into the deep forest,” said another.
Wild bison have also been spotted in other areas, including Ponda City, Dhavalim, Chirputem, and Curti. The recent disturbances in the forest, caused by construction activities and highway widening, have been blamed for pushing the bison out of their natural habitat and into nearby residential areas.
