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Uttarakhand is facing an alarming spike in human–wildlife conflict as Himalayan black bears, once known to keep their distance from settlements, are increasingly entering villages and attacking people and livestock. In the past three months alone, the state has seen 71 bear attacks that have resulted in six human deaths and the loss of around 60 animals. Confronted with this sudden rise in aggression, district authorities have even issued shoot-at-sight orders for specific problem bears— a step never before seen in the state. Scientists and forest officials are now warning that the surge cannot be seen in isolation: it signals the acute and dangerous ways in which climate change is altering animal behaviour, especially by disturbing natural hibernation cycles that Himalayan bears have followed for generations.
Forest department data reveals that 71 attacks occurred within a three-month window, leaving six people dead and dozens more injured, along with nearly 60 livestock animals killed. Looking at long-term figures, the scale of the crisis becomes even clearer. Over the last 25 years, close to 2,000 individuals have been injured in bear encounters in Uttarakhand, while 68 have lost their lives. Reports from this year suggest that at least seven fatalities due to black bear attacks have already taken place by November.
Officials describe the situation as unprecedented. In Pauri district’s Satpuli region, one particularly aggressive bear killed more than 45 cattle within a few months. In Rudraprayag, two women were attacked while collecting grass, reflecting how routine daily activities have suddenly become dangerous. Forest teams have noted an unusual behavioural transformation in the animals as well, as Himalayan black bears, usually omnivorous, display patterns associated with strictly carnivorous predators.
The affected areas are now living in a state of fear. Villagers in places like Paithani in the Thalisain block of Pauri district describe conditions similar to a self-imposed curfew after dark. Routine work such as tending fields, fetching fodder, or collecting firewood has been drastically reduced due to fear of surprise encounters. The situation is severe enough that even livestock, the economic backbone of many mountain households, is being kept indoors or moved away from traditional grazing grounds.
To manage the escalating crisis, the state forest department authorised the shooting of a specific bear believed responsible for repeated killings in Pauri district. However, the order has been difficult to execute. Camera traps installed in the Paithani range detected four to five different bears frequenting the same area, making it nearly impossible to identify the “right” one. As the shoot-at-sight window progressed without success, the forest department shifted toward alternative measures, including tranquilisation attempts, the placement of large cages, and the use of irritants such as pepper spray around nighttime cattle enclosures.
Forest teams have also received updated operational guidelines instructing them to carry tranquiliser kits, protective gear, cages, and emergency medical supplies during field operations. In addition, the Uttarakhand government has moved to reduce the burden on victims’ families by doubling the compensation for deaths caused by wildlife, increasing it from INR 5 lakh to INR 10 lakh, while announcing that any injured individuals will receive free medical treatment.
These administrative steps underline the complexity of the problem, especially because the black bear is a Schedule II protected species under India’s wildlife laws. Ordering the killing of a protected animal remains a last resort and is typically approved only in cases of extreme, persistent threat.
Scientists increasingly agree that this surge in bear attacks is directly linked to climate change. Himalayan black bears normally retreat to dens in early November, with snowfall and freezing temperatures acting as natural signals for hibernation. This year, however, snowfall has been delayed and is far lighter than usual, leaving the mountains warmer and the ecological triggers for hibernation disrupted.
Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have documented a drastic reduction in the length of hibernation. Previously, bears would remain in their dens for three to five months, but recent studies show that some animals are hibernating for barely two months, and in extreme cases, for just over 30 days. Such dramatic alterations in metabolic cycles leave bears stressed, restless, and in constant search of food during periods when they would normally be dormant.
Climate change has also shrunk the availability of forest food sources. A berry species locally known as bhamor, once a crucial food for bears, has declined sharply in oak forests. Warming temperatures and changing forest composition have reduced the availability of fruits, nuts, and natural forage. Faced with dwindling forest resources, bears are increasingly straying toward farms, orchards, and even garbage dumps around towns like Gopeshwar, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Bhawali.
As climate-driven scarcity worsens, animals are being pushed into high-risk behaviour. Wildlife experts, including senior WII scientists, warn that ecological imbalance is already causing unpredictable behavioural shifts. When food is limited and biological rhythms are disrupted, wild animals may become bolder, more aggressive, or increasingly reliant on risky foraging near humans.
This situation mirrors trends seen in several other countries with bear populations. Regions of Japan and Canada have reported similar increases in bear aggression and sightings near populated areas. In many of these places, warmer winters and diminishing food sources, particularly forest nuts and berries, have pushed bears to wander into towns in search of easy meals.
In Uttarakhand, the Himalayan black bear subspecies is found across both high alpine zones and lower temperate regions, including protected areas such as Rajaji and Corbett. The state’s own Economic Survey (2018–19) had already identified black bears as one of the most problematic species in terms of human conflict, showing that the issue has deeper roots that climate change is now intensifying.
Beyond the immediate danger, the psychological toll on mountain communities is immense. People across the affected districts have stopped venturing out in the early morning or after dusk. Livestock losses have severely affected marginal farmers who rely on goats, cows, and buffaloes for survival. The constant threat of bear encounters has also disrupted agricultural work and the collection of forest resources, which are essential parts of rural livelihoods.
Furthermore, the loss of life has strained these communities emotionally and economically. Families are left grieving, and villages remain on edge, awaiting intervention from authorities while trying to maintain their daily routines.
Wildlife scientists emphasise that stopping the attacks will require more than emergency orders or repeated tranquilisation attempts. Researchers insist on deeper ecological studies to fully understand how rising temperatures, erratic snowfall, and habitat changes are affecting bear behaviour across the Himalayas.
Non-lethal measures remain the preferred long-term approach. These include improved waste management to reduce attractants near villages, installation of secure enclosures for livestock at night, and community awareness programmes advising people to avoid high-risk areas, especially during early morning and evening hours.
Better monitoring using radio collars and additional camera traps would help track individual bear movements and identify problem animals more accurately. Experts also highlight the urgent need for habitat restoration. Reviving native oak forests and restoring natural food cycles could help reduce bear dependency on human settlements.
On the policy front, it is critical for Uttarakhand to balance public safety concerns with conservation priorities. Transparent and science-based protocols for when lethal force may be used are essential, given the protected status of black bears.
The wave of black bear attacks in Uttarakhand is more than a wildlife management challenge; it is a direct warning of how climate change is altering the behaviour of species that have coexisted with local communities for generations. Disrupted hibernation cycles, shrinking food sources, and rising temperatures are pushing bears into human areas in unprecedented ways. How Uttarakhand responds to this crisis may ultimately shape future policies on climate-resilient wildlife conservation across the Himalayan region.
1. Why are black bears suddenly more aggressive in Uttarakhand?
Because warming winters and reduced snow are disrupting their natural hibernation cycle, forcing them to remain active longer and venture into human areas in search of food.
2. What is the scale of the bear attack problem?
Over 71 attacks in three months have been recorded, with six human deaths and 60 livestock lost. Over the past 25 years, nearly 2,000 people have been injured and 68 killed in Uttarakhand due to black bears.
3. Are the bears being killed?
The forest department has issued shoot-at-sight orders for problem bears, but is also using non-lethal methods like cages and tranquilisers.
4. What is causing the change in bear behaviour?
Mainly climate change — less snow, shorter and warmer winters, and reduced natural food sources (like berries). Habitat squeeze and human encroachment also exacerbate the conflict.
5. What can be done to prevent this?
Experts call for more research, better waste and forest management, wildlife monitoring, compensation for victims, and long-term habitat restoration.
