Kot Gaun abandoned because of wild boar terror

By Raj Kumar Bhattarai,Khotang, Dec. 29: With the village deserted and uninhabitable, Surya Bahadur Niraula's family is now preparing to leave Kot Gaun. Extreme water shortages and the persistent terror of wild boars have already forced most of his neighbours to relocate.

A few years ago, 17 families lived in Kot Gaun, located in Dumre Dharapani of Rawa Besi Rural Municipality-4, Khotang. Currently, only four households remain, including that of Surya Bahadur Niraula.

Once thriving with seasonal crops like maize, millet, finger millet and lentils, the village’s farmlands now lie barren, some overgrown with invasive weeds. Most houses have deteriorated into ruins and the once vibrant village now appears deserted.

The remaining four families, who still rear livestock, have also decided to leave the village. The primary reason for their decision is the unrelenting terror caused by wild boars.

According to Niraula, the animals destroy all the crops, leaving farmers with no choice but to abandon farming. “They uproot, trample and devour every bit of our harvest,” he said. Faced with both the terror of wild boars and a persistent water crisis, residents have no option but to leave the village.

Niraula recalled that about six or seven years ago, small wild boar piglets were spotted near the village. Now fully grown, these boars wreak havoc in the area. “Around 18 to 19 wild boars raid the village in groups at night, destroying all the crops,” he explained. Initially, villagers were unsure what animal was causing the damage, but they later identified the culprits as wild boars.

“About seven years ago, we saw small piglet-like animals in the jungle. Over time, they grew and started invading the village to destroy our crops,” he shared. 

Now, with no crops left to harvest, the neighbours have already left. We are also planning to leave soon, as there’s nothing left for us here.

Currently, water is being piped into Kot Gaun from a neighbouring ward of Aiselukharka Rural Municipality-6. However, water shortages are severe during the dry season. Dumre Dharapani, as a whole, suffers from chronic water scarcity. 

A plan to lift water from the Dudhkoshi River is underway but remains incomplete due to inconsistent provincial funding, according to Ward Chairperson Gyan Bahadur Pandey.

“The project is progressing rapidly, and we believe that once it is completed, the water supply will improve, and migration can be stopped,” said Pandey. He also stressed the need for provincial and federal governments to address the wild boar menace in Kot Gaun.