Joshimath, Sept 7: In yet another case of man-animal conflict in Garhwal Himalayas, a senior citizen was grievously injured after being attacked by a wild bear at Kalghot village under Joshimath block in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Sunday.
The injured elderly person was rushed to the community health centre and later referred to higher centre for treatment with serious head and facial injuries, forest officials said.
The incident is the latest in a sharp rise in bear attacks across Uttarakhand, particularly in Garhwal region.
According to forest department data, between 2000 and November 2025 Uttarakhand recorded 71 deaths and 2009 injuries in bear attacks alone, while in recent months the surge has been alarming with five to seven persons killed by Himalayan bears since September 2025 and over 75 injured, many with severe facial disfigurement. Statewide, human-wildlife conflict has claimed over 1325 lives since the formation of the state in 2000.
The latest official figures for the first six months of 2026 show 36 human deaths in wildlife attacks averaging six fatalities per month. Leopards were responsible for the highest number of fatalities at 15, followed closely by tigers at 11, with remaining deaths attributed to elephants, crocodiles and bear.
Leopards also caused at least 46 non-fatal injuries in the same period. For comparison 68 lives were lost in 2025 and 84 in 2024, with officials warning that 2026 may surpass previous years. Long-term data from 2000 to 2025 records 954 deaths due to wild animals including 548 by leopards, 230 by elephants, 106 by tigers and 70 by bears, besides over 2100 injuries by leopards and over 2000 by bears.
Pauri Garhwal remains the hotspot accounting for highest leopard population and frequent bear encounters, followed by Almora, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Tehri.
Garhwal MP Anil Baluni had recently raised the issue in Parliament saying parents have stopped sending children out after dusk and a curfew-like situation prevails, while Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt demanded central assistance.
In view of rising conflict, Uttarakhand government has increased compensation from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for families of those killed and ordered shooting of 13 leopards and three bears identified as habitual attackers after tranquilising attempts failed, besides deploying forest escorts for school children in Pauri belt and distribution of whistles to villagers.
