A 45-year-old man was killed in a wild gaur attack in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru district, marking the second fatal encounter with the species in the region within just 15 days. The latest incident has once again highlighted the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in the forested coffee-growing belt of the Western Ghats.

According to reports, the victim was attacked by a wild gaur while he was near an agricultural area close to forest land. The massive bovine charged unexpectedly, inflicting severe injuries. Despite efforts to rescue him, he succumbed to his injuries, sending shockwaves through the local community.

The tragedy follows another fatal gaur attack earlier this month in the Kalasa region of Chikkamagaluru, where a 52-year-old woman lost her life while working on her farm. The two deaths within a fortnight have heightened fear among residents, many of whom depend on farming and plantation work in areas bordering forests.

Forest officials have launched an investigation into the latest incident and are monitoring gaur movement in the affected area. They have urged villagers and plantation workers to avoid venturing alone into fields adjoining forests during the early morning and evening hours, when gaurs are most active. Authorities are also considering additional mitigation measures to reduce encounters between wildlife and people.

Indian gaurs (Bos gaurus), the world’s largest wild cattle species, are generally shy but can become highly aggressive if startled, threatened, or protecting their young. Habitat fragmentation, expanding agriculture, and increased human activity near forest edges have contributed to more frequent interactions between gaurs and people in parts of Karnataka.

The recurring incidents have prompted local residents to demand stronger preventive measures, including better monitoring of wildlife movement, early warning systems, and long-term strategies to minimise conflict while ensuring the conservation of the species. Conservationists stress that protecting both human lives and wildlife requires improved habitat management, community awareness, and coordinated action by forest authorities.