Voters urge election candidate to tackle human–wildlife conflict

Voters urge election candidate to tackle human–wildlife conflictBARDIYA, Feb 1: Voters in Bardiya constituency No. 2 have urged Nepali Congress (NC) candidate Kishor Singh Rathore to prioritise the management of escalating human–wildlife conflict, citing growing safety concerns in communities bordering Banke and Bardiya national parks. During interactions with voters, locals said wild animals frequently stray into settlements, leading to fatal attacks and mounting insecurity for residents living in buffer zones and nearby areas. Kaman Singh Saud of Thakurbaba Municipality–3 said people feel increasingly unsafe and have called on Rathore to take concrete steps to address the long-standing problem. Rathore acknowledged that managing human–wildlife conflict has become more challenging in recent years and pledged to work with relevant authorities through dialogue and coordination to find effective solutions, according to his personal secretariat. He is currently holding meetings and ...