PALPA, Jan 26: Locals of Mathagadhi Rural Municipality in Mahilachaur of Palpa district are having sleepless nights 17 goats have been killed by tiger (s) within a span of a few months.

Animal husbandry is the common occupation of people here. However, farmers are worried about their business due to the attacks by tiger. Tej Bahadur Gaha, a local, informed Republica that tiger(s) has been preying mostly on their goats instead of other cattle.

"Tigers are also destroying our crops. Sometimes, they stray into the human settlement and prey on our cattle and their calves," said Tej Bahadur.

As informed by Gaha, who is also the chairperson of Ratukhorach Kabuliyati Forest Users' Group, locals have already knocked the doors of the rural municipality office and Division Forest Office seeking solution to this problem but in vain. They are obliged to stay awake at night to make sure that their herds are safe.

"Once, a tiger came and took away four of my calves. I tried to stop it by pelting stones but that did not work," said another local Gyan Bahadur Gaha, adding, "I don't think animal husbandry will be a good occupation as tigers have started appearing here regularly."

He stated that they would soon contact the rural municipality and seek compensation for their loss.

Meanwhile, Santosh Kumar Thapa, chairperson of Mathgadhi Rural Municipality, says he is unaware about the tiger menace in his village. However, he assured to provide those farmers with compensation by consulting with the livestock health coordinator.

Similarly, Divisional Forest Officer Mohan Prasad Paudel informed Republica that so far no one has visited the DFO seeking compensation.

"We can provide some compensation to the victims if we receive recommendation from the local unit along with police report," said Paudel.

Not just tigers but also leopards, deer and other animals have been threatening the safety of villagers and damaging their crops. Locals lament that they have been protecting and preserving forest resources for the sake of wildlife, but the wild animals are making their life difficult.

Caption: Mahilachaur village of Mathgadhi Rural Municipality.

 
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