Lakhimpur Kheri, June 16 -- There have been growing incidents of human-animal conflicts in various districts of Terai region, including Kheri, Bahraich, Pilibhit, Bijnor, Rampur, and Moradabad which has left the UP government, senior forest authorities and wildlife experts worried. To effectively handle the issue, a workshop on 'Human-animal conflict: challenges and strategy ahead' was held in Dudhwa on Monday with UP forest minister Dr Arun Saxena as chief guest and UP MoS, forest KP Malik as special guest. The technical session included technical suggestions by prominent wildlife experts. Addressing workshop as the chief guest, UP forest minister Dr Arun Saxena highlighted that human as well as wild animal population both had registered a significant growth, however, he added forest areas were limited and human population rise had resulted in expanded agriculture which had severely encroached upon wildlife habitats. Highlighting the specific danger of leopards and tigers taking shelter in sugarcane fields close to reserve forest areas, Dr Saxena said that the sugarcane field has become their jungle where they breed and seek prey. The UP forest minister urged experts to provide concrete directions, adding, "We must find a way to coexist safely without any human-wildlife conflict." UP forest minister lauded Philips India for providing 1500 solar lights in conflict hit villages in Bahraich and thus contributing to minimise the conflicts. Speaking on the occasion, UP MoS forest KP Malik stressed upon need to engage villagers, tribals, youths for their suggestions in such workshops as they were the main stakeholders in the issue. Kheri MP Utkarsh Verma, Amroha MLC Hari Singh Dillon, Bisalpur MLA Vivek Verma and Dhaurahra BJP MLA Vinod Shankar Awasthi, Dhaurahra Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadauriya also spoke on the occasion. Bhadauriya also urged the government not to register FIRs against the villagers for small issues and in self defense against wild animals. An exhibition was set up by 'Van Rakshak', Wildlife-SOS....