KALAIGAON, Dec 16 - The killing of a six-month-old baby and injuries to another boy by wild boars in the last two days has created panic among villagers in Udalguri district.
According to information, a six-month-old baby named Puna Kumar, son of Kishan Kumar of village Chaglijhar near Nonai Forest Range Office was killed by a wild boar yesterday afternoon at 3 pm. The baby was on the lap of his mother when a wild boar charged from behind. The baby which got separated from the mother while she was trying to escape was instantly killed by the wild boar.
In another incident, a boy named Suraj Chetri (12) of village Nonaikhuti near Khalingduar Reserve Forest was attacked by another wild boar at 10 am on December 15 while he was working in a field. He was seriously injured in the incident and was rushed to Guwahati Medical College & Hospital.
Wildlife experts are of the opinion that the restoration of forest cover in Khalingduar Reserve Forest, which had got destroyed earlier, has attracted many species of wild animals including leopards, wild dogs, bears, wild boars etc. But the growth of population of wild boars has been faster and they have started roaming around in the nearby villages in search of food. The villagers have requested the Forest Department to launch a massive awareness campaign in villages near Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Khalingduar Reserve Forest on the issue.
