Two villagers lost their lives following a series of wild boar attacks in Kenchensu village, located in the Tobu area of Mon District, Nagaland. The tragedy began on October 1, 2024, when three villagers were on their way to their fields. One of the victims, Angba, a 32-year-old man, sustained severe injuries from a wild boar bite to his upper leg and was taken to the Mon District Hospital for treatment.
In response to the attack, according to Wanei, president of the Kenchensu Village Students’ Union (KVSU), on October 2, the village council and students’ union encouraged villagers to visit the site of the incident to assess the situation and verify the location. “The villagers went even without any guns,” Wanei recounted, acknowledging that the villagers were committed to the conservation of wildlife while simultaneously understanding the threat posed by the wild boar.
Tragically, while at the site, Aknyu, a village Gaon Burah (GB) and a relative of Angba, was killed in another attack by the wild boar. Compounding the tragedy, Angba succumbed to his injuries later that same day at the Mon District Hospital. The villagers mourned the loss of both men, holding their funerals on October 3, 2024, as villagers came together to support the grieving families.
In the aftermath of these tragic events, the KVSU president narrated that the villagers sought permission from the District Administration, the Konyak Students’ Union, the Konyak Union, and other relevant authorities to address the threat posed by the wild boars. The authorities recognized the danger these animals presented and agreed that action could be taken if lives were at risk.
It is essential to note that under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, there are provisions addressing human-wildlife conflict and the management of wildlife that poses a threat to human safety. For instance, Section 39 allows for the culling of wild animals under specific conditions, particularly when they threaten human safety or are affected by diseases. The Chief Wildlife Warden can grant permission for such actions.
On October 7, 2024, the village organized an expedition to locate the wild boar responsible for the attacks. The villagers killed the animal and brought it back to the village, where in a video that has now gone viral, family members of the deceased were seen expressing their grief and frustration on the dead boar. The wild boar was said to be around 6 feet in length.