Leopard Attack in Yamkeshwar Raises Questions Over Safety of Schoolchildren, Human-Wildlife Conflict Emerging as Poll Issue

Umashankar Kukreti

YAMKESHWAR: The growing man-wildlife conflict in Uttarakhand’s hills has become a serious concern for villagers. In Yamkeshwar, a man of Nepali origin was grievously injured after a leopard lying in ambush attacked him on the road from Diyuli to Dhamanda village.

According to locals, the same route is used daily by schoolchildren. Parents are now terrified about sending their children to school after the incident.

Villagers say bushes on both sides of the road have grown thick due to monsoon, making it difficult to spot a person or wild animal from a distance. This has increased the risk of leopards hiding and attacking suddenly.

*’Even rearing cattle has become difficult’*

Locals allege that the presence of leopards is continuously increasing in the area. A large number of leopards are roaming in nearby forests and villages. Many families have stopped rearing cattle due to fear of attacks on livestock.

Despite repeated complaints to the Forest Department, villagers say action remains limited to formalities rather than a permanent solution. Their question is – if a man can be attacked today, tomorrow a child using the same path could become a victim.

Villagers have demanded immediate clearing of bushes on sensitive routes, installation of camera traps, increased regular patrolling, and identification and necessary action against the attacking leopard.

*Numbers show severity of crisis*

Human-wildlife conflict in Uttarakhand is no longer limited to forests. As per information given in the Assembly, from 2000 to January 31, 2026, 1,296 people have died and 6,624 have been injured in such conflicts in the state.

In 2025 alone, 18 people died and 105 were injured in leopard attacks. The situation remains alarming this year too. As per Forest Department data published in early August 2026, 29 people have died in tiger and leopard attacks in 2026 so far – 17 due to leopards and 12 due to tigers.

Till May 2026, 12 deaths and 29 injuries due to leopard attacks were reported. 18 deaths occurred in 2025, 15 in 2024, and 18 in 2023 due to leopard attacks.

In the first week of August, two women died in leopard/big cat attacks within 48 hours in Kumaon region. On August 9, a man was injured in a leopard attack in Saneh area of Kotdwar while out for a morning walk.

In July 2026, amid rising conflict, the Forest Department reportedly gave permission to kill 13 leopards and 3 bears. 118 such wildlife have been identified in the state posing serious threat to human safety.

Experts say the solution should not be limited to removing man-eaters. Clearing bushes near forests, street lights in villages, surveillance on sensitive routes, safe paths for schoolchildren, livestock protection and immediate information and relief to villagers are equally essential.

*Is wildlife fear a major reason for migration?*

While migration in Uttarakhand is usually discussed in terms of employment, education and health, the growing terror of wild animals is also becoming a serious question linked to quality of life and safety.

When villagers fear going to their fields, bringing fodder from forests, grazing cattle and even sending children to school, living in villages naturally becomes difficult. Therefore, human-wildlife conflict needs to be seriously studied as one of the major reasons for migration.

*Wildlife conflict may become big issue in 2027 elections*

Ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections in Uttarakhand, human-wildlife conflict may emerge as a major rural issue. Especially in hilly areas like Pauri, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli and Nainital, villagers’ safety, leopard-tiger attacks, loss of cattle and Forest Department’s action may become part of electoral debate.

The question is no longer how many leopards there are. The question is – how safe is a hill person in his own village and field?

The Yamkeshwar incident also points towards this larger question – if a concrete and permanent solution is not found in time, human-wildlife conflict may become one of Uttarakhand’s most serious rural challenges in the coming years.