Kathmandu— Farmers in Jajarkot, Nepal, are facing an escalating threat from wild boars and monkeys that have begun destroying maize crops across several villages. To protect their harvest, farmers are erecting temporary shelters and taking turns keeping watch over their fields day and night, a task made more dangerous by the nocturnal activities of wild boars.

Growing Threat from Wild Boars

Wild boars have caused significant damage to maize fields in Ward Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, forcing farmers like Mohan Khatri to guard their crops around the clock. Last year, monkeys were the primary threat, but this year wild boars have become a major issue as they raid fields at night, making it difficult for farmers to protect their harvests.

Khatri said his family had no choice but to take turns guarding the fields due to the unpredictable nature of wild boar attacks. He expressed concern that if the government does not manage wildlife effectively, people dependent on agriculture and daily wage labour will lose interest in farming.

Impact on Livelihoods

For many families who rely on farming for their livelihood, crop losses due to wild animals have become a serious concern. Bhakta Bahadur Batala from Bheri Municipality-13 said that after months of hard work protecting maize fields from storms and pests, farmers are now worried about the imminent threat posed by monkeys and wild boars.

Batala added that these animals no longer seem afraid of people, entering fields near settlements without hesitation. Farmers stay awake throughout the night to prevent crop destruction but find it increasingly challenging to manage both day and night threats.

(With inputs from Rising Nepal)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.