Nirgosh Gaude
Ponda
Within a year of the fatal attack on an elderly woman at Bondbaag–Bethoda, fear of the bison has returned to haunt the villagers. Locals said they have witnessed heavy movement of the animals in recent days, with a herd grazing in residential areas despite the wild-proof trench constructed last year. Upset residents are now demanding solar fencing along the village border.
On Tuesday morning, the son of the woman killed in October 2024 attack recorded video footage of a herd of about six bison roaming in his backyard. Further inquiries revealed that the herd has been a regular visitor, appearing in different parts of the village on various days.
Residents said the animals have been grazing in both farm and residential areas “as if they are still in the forest,” leaving the community in fear.
Local resident Pradeep Bondbaagkar said that the movement had reduced significantly after the Forest Department dug the trench, bringing some peace to the villagers.
“Recently, bison movement has increased again, creating panic in the village. We have seen them jumping over the trench or finding other routes from the forest to enter the village,” he said.
Bondbaagkar urged the government to find a permanent solution before another life is lost, adding that farmers in the Dharbandora area have successfully used solar fencing to keep the bison out.
It may be recalled that on October 12, 2024, Mangal Shantaram Bondbaagkar (64) was attacked near her residence when she tried to chase away a bison. She sustained a puncture wound to her abdomen and died the next day at Goa Medical College, Bambolim.
Following the incident, the Forest Department constructed a 1 km long trench, 2 metres deep and 2 metres wide, to block the animals’ entry. However, Bondbaag, located on the forest’s edge, remains highly vulnerable to wild animal attacks, and residents say the renewed intrusion has brought back the same fear they experienced before the tragedy.
