Nagpur Faces Rising Animal Bite Crisis as Monkey and Donkey Attacks Surge Nagpur has recorded an alarming rise in animal bite incidents, with at least three cases reported daily involving monkeys, donkeys, and other animals over the past five years. Data from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), obtained through an RTI request by activist Abhay Kolarkar, reveals that 6,126 such incidents occurred between April 2021 and February 2026. The numbers have grown sharply each year, peaking in the current financial cycle. Officials attribute this surge to escalating human-animal conflict, driven by factors such as open garbage dumps, easy access to food waste, and shrinking natural habitats. Monkeys and stray animals like donkeys frequently enter residential areas, often becoming aggressive when confronted. The data highlights a consistent upward trend in monkey and donkey bites. Cases rose from 546 in 2021-22 to 794 in 2022-23, then to 1,117 in 2023-24, 1,431 in 2024-25, and 2,238 by February 2026. This trend underscores the growing public health concern, as the NMC’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) program focuses primarily on controlling stray dog populations. Between May 2023 and February 2026, the NMC sterilized 69,389 dogs across three centers, with nearly equal numbers of males and females. However, experts warn that this approach does little to address the rising incidents involving monkeys and stray livestock. The city also reported 44,660 dog bite cases during the same period, resulting in 9,946 injuries and eight rabies deaths. Public health experts emphasize that animal bites can lead to severe infections and rabies if not treated promptly.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #abhay_kolarkar #monkey_bites #donkey_attacks #nmc_animal_birth_control
