Nainital: As the dry weather fuels forest fires across Uttarakhand, villagers in parts of Nainital are said to be starting their own wildfires over fear of big cats. This is not due to neglect or environmental damage, but to scare away tigers and leopards that have wandered into human areas.“In areas like Pahadpani, Okalkanda and Dali, the rise in human-wildlife conflicts has forced the administration to close schools and advise people not to enter forests or go out at night. Villagers here say wild animals, especially leopards, are seen in rural areas and on roads. They are frequently sighted on roads and even near homes. Their livelihood is so dependent on the forest that people have no choice but to light fires in nearby jungles to protect the forest and keep the predators away,” said Chandan Nayar, an environmental activist.Nayar said, “Authorities have advised people not to go into the forest, but even those who don’t go into the forest are not safe as leopards wander into villages and even enter houses. Roads in most villages cut through the forest. Also, many villages do not have proper roads, forcing people to walk on forest paths to buy food or sell products. How can anyone stay indoors?”The Forest Service, already suffering from staff shortages, now faces the dual challenge of controlling forest fires and tracking potentially dangerous wildlife. Nainital DFO Aakash Gangwar told TOI that fire-fighting teams were dispatched as soon as the forest fire was reported and villagers were also assisting in the fire-fighting efforts. Those who intentionally set fire will be severely punished, Gangwar said.Nayar said local residents approached the SDM in Dali and the DFO in Nainital on January 19, demanding immediate and concrete safety measures. “Villagers live in constant fear. We have clearly told the government to put in place a robust system to protect people from wild animals or we will have no choice but to launch active protests,” Nayar said.Former state minister Harish Pannell said, “Only those who cannot migrate remain in the hill villages. People are leaving out of compulsion, not choice. The forest department is not taking the issue of man-animal conflict seriously. When there is no security or structure in place, people will do anything to save their lives.” If proper policies and safety measures are in place, people will not take such extreme actions.” With board exams just around the corner, school closures are having a negative impact on students, Pannell said, adding that villages around the forest lack basic infrastructure such as toilets, street lights and minimum safety measures.Villager Jagdish Negi told TOI that hill communities have been known as custodians of nature for generations, but that ideal crumbles when their very survival is at stake. The unfolding crisis in Uttarakhand highlights how climate change, government neglect, and escalating human-animal conflicts are converging into a humanitarian and environmental emergency. In this crisis, frightened villagers are faced with both wild animals and an unresponsive system.