Rising Human-Wildlife Conflicts and Animal Welfare Concerns in India

Recent reports highlight escalating human-wildlife conflicts across India. In Jharkhand, a wild elephant killed 20 people in early January, including Prakash, a local villager. In Maharashtra, increased sugarcane farming has led to more leopard attacks on livestock and humans, exemplified by a farmer severely injured defending his goats. Meanwhile, Delhi Zoo faces criticism over animal welfare and management issues, with activists questioning its conservation role amid incidents like animal deaths and alleged record manipulation.