Rural Baglung faces wildlife terror as villages empty out

KATHMANDU: The trend of rural-to-urban migration in Baglung has accelerated, leaving villages desolate.

Driven by the lure of better facilities and opportunities, people are abandoning their ancestral homes, leading to deserted villages and overgrown farmlands.

Banmara (Ageratina adenophora) have overtaken fields, and dense vegetation now obscures once-thriving communities. With the youth working abroad and children relocating to urban areas for education, only senior citizens remain in many rural regions.

Once vibrant villages have turned forlorn in just a decade. Overgrown bushes have enveloped pathways, and wildlife terror has surged as forests reclaim these areas.

Residents are increasingly alarmed by monkeys, jackals, and wolves invading their homes. In some places, wild animals are wreaking havoc, with monkeys destroying crops and household items, adding to the distress of those left behind.

Kul Bahadur Thapa of Jaimini Municipality-5 lamented the growing wildlife menace, sharing that monkeys often destroy vegetables in kitchen gardens and even damage goods stored on porches. “As the village population dwindles, wildlife problems increase,” he said. Once confined to jungles, animals like monkeys and jackals now intrude into homes, creating a constant source of worry for residents.

“The wild animals have caused significant distress. Monkeys destroy crops, wolves attack livestock, and the fear of attacks on humans is ever-present,” Thapa said. He urged the government to intervene, adding, “Those who migrate leave without concern, but those of us who remain need protection.”

Similarly, Nandaram Kandel of Kathekhola Rural Municipality-5 voiced frustration over the loss caused by wildlife. “Each year, we suffer damages worth millions due to wild animals consuming crops and killing livestock,” he said. Kandel called for government action to prevent wildlife intrusion and suggested policies to ensure that properties left by migrating families do not remain unattended.

Despite some development in rural areas, many people continue to prefer urban living, exacerbating wildlife problems in abandoned villages. “We are caught in a dilemma. We can neither move to cities nor live peacefully in the village,” Kandel explained. He emphasized that proper wildlife management could enable them to live contentedly in their ancestral homes.

The government must address these pressing issues to protect rural communities and ensure a balance between human habitation and wildlife management.