Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Khagendra Karna has drawn the attention of the government toward the growing human and agricultural losses in Saptari and surrounding districts due to attacks by wild elephants and other wildlife coming from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
Speaking in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Karna recalled several incidents in recent years where local residents lost their lives in elephant attacks. “Human-wildlife conflict has been escalating in areas affected by the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. We need to find immediate and effective solutions to the problem,” he added.
Karna said locals of Saptakoshi Municipality, Kanchanrup Municipality, and Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality, among other areas, of Saptari have lost their lives due to attacks by elephants and other wild animals. “Additionally, crops planted on thousands of bighas of farmland by local farmers have been destroyed,” he added.
Karna also said the cumbersome compensation process further worsens the plight of affected farmers and families.
“I request the government to effectively implement programs for managing human-wildlife conflict,” he added.
