Farmers build tin shelters to battle bear menace
Summary
Farmers in Solukhumbu are building tin shelters and staying up all night to protect maize fields from bears raiding crops in several Himalayan villages. Local officials say bears cannot be killed and that there is currently no compensation for crop losses caused by wild animals.
Key Points
- Farmers in high-altitude areas of Solukhumbu are erecting shelters and hanging tin sheets to scare bears away from maize fields.
- Residents in villages including Salleri, Tamakhani, Beni, Taksindu, Ringmu, Phera and Junbesi say bear attacks have increased and created fear at night.
- The District Administration Office and District Forest Office have warned that wild animals cannot be killed or harmed, while no compensation is available for crop damage.
- Ward office officials say they have received dozens of applications seeking measures to control bears and other wild animals.
