Bhubaneswar: Rising man-animal conflicts have emerged as a major cause of concern for officials and environmentalists.

Environment activists are demanding immediate steps to check the wanton destruction of forests.

"If we destroy the natural habitat of wild animals they are bound to stray into human habitations and attack us. There have been cases of humans killing animals in retaliation. This trend cannot be stopped unless we check human interference in forests, specially their destruction for the purpose of setting up industries," said environmentalist Bijay Mishra.

Former environment director Bhagirathi Behera said: "Habitat erosion is a serious issue that should be addressed urgently. Since forests are home to wild animals who depend on them for food and protection they should be saved at all cost. Disappearance of forests would force animals to raid human habitations."

Man-animal conflicts was in focus in April this year when three persons were killed and five others were injured in an attack by a wild bear in Keonjhar district.

The victims were mauled by the animal when they had gone inside the Bhalupahadisahi forest to collect Mahua flowers. Last year in October, a wild bear was beaten to death by an angry mob after it killed a man from Bhurudapalli village in Ganjam district. In 2016, wild bears had attacked and killed three persons, including a woman, in Nabarangpur district. The victims had gone inside a forest to collect firewood when they were attacked by two bears.

Elephants, too, have been coming into conflict with human beings at regular intervals at various parts of the state. Statistics show that during the past six years 393 elephants have been killed in the state while jumbos have killed 300 persons.

In June last year three elephants two females and a calf were electrocuted by high-tension electric wires in Borapada forest of Dhenkanal district.