Identify schools in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve prone to wildlife attacks, give safe transport to kids: HC

Kolhapur: The Bombay high court's Kolhapur bench on Thursday directed the district collector and the forest department to identify in seven days the "dangerous" schools prone to wild attacks in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) and jointly deploy a 6am-6pm safe school transport for students, escorted by a dedicated rapid response team every day.The court also directed that an advanced life support ambulance be permanently stationed at the Shittur-Warun primary health centre in Kolhapur district.The STR is spread over a total 1,166 sq km area covering Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary in the north, Chandoli National Park in the south and extending up to Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary.The bench of Justice Madhav J Jamdar and Justice Pravin S Patil was hearing a PIL filed by activist Harish B Kamble, highlighting "systemic failure" of the state authorities in managing the human-wildlife interface in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, including Chandoli National Park.The petitioner stated that the vast STR area has five tigers, 50 leopards and over 100 Indian Gaurs, among other wild animals. Since 2014, there have been 30 recorded wild attacks, which resulted in five human fatalities, including two school children, the petitioner stated and added, in 2025 itself five attacks have occurred.Consequently, over 1,000 acres of fertile agricultural land lie fallow due to fear, and over 500 school students daily face life-threatening risks, the petitioner said seeking steps such as installation of solar fencing and deployment of medical emergency services.The bench said it was satisfied with the prima facie case made out by the petitioner for grant of interim relief. "Considering the factual position and to protect the citizens and school going children, the immediate interference of this court is necessary in the matter," the bench said.Petitioner Kamble said, "The STR and Chandoli park has jurisdiction in Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Ratnagiri districts. There are four educational institutions located in the vicinity of the core zone of STR mainly in Sangli and Kolhapur districts. These schools have 500 plus students who reside inside the core zone which is prone to wild life attack and some of them have to walk four to five kilometers to reach the proper road to hop onto the bus to reach schools."The petitioner in support of the need for safe transportation to school students put forth the letter by the head master of Hutatma Nanak Singh Secondary and Higher Secondary School from Sonawade in Sangli district. The headmaster has highlighted the concern of the students of the school who are facing several difficulties in view of human wildlife conflict.Dhairyasheel Patil, deputy conservator of forests Kolhapur division, said, "To reduce wild attacks we have built waterholes in forest areas so that the wild animals don't escape the forest areas and venture into human habitations. Also in coordination with the electricity department we have ensured day time power supply unlike previously the farmers used to step out at night to irrigate the fields and were prone to wild attack."He said, "We will convene a coordination meeting with heads of health, state transport and education department to meet the requirements, such as safe transport for students, providing advanced life support system ambulances-sought by the HC."Patil said the forest department has 1926 toll free helpline, which once dialled gets the response team deployed to address any emergency situation.