Alarming statistics have emerged to lay bare the human toll of the stray dog crisis in Kerala, with 118 people having lost their lives due to dog bites in the state over the past ten years. The new information was obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request by Sijumon Francis of the Farmers’ Awareness Revival Movement (FARM).
Kollam proved to be the most dangerous district, with 21 deaths. Thiruvananthapuram came next with 16 deaths, and Palakkad had 13. The tragic toll continues on the map, with Alappuzha having 12 deaths, Thrissur having 11, and Ernakulam and Kozhikode with 9 deaths each. Even in places like Kasaragod and Kottayam, where the toll was lower, the danger is a constant concern for the people there.
Perhaps most heartbreaking is the demographic breakdown of the victims. The age of those who died ranges from a tiny 15-month-old infant to a 90-year-old woman. While the highest concentration of deaths occurred among those in their 40s and 50s —accounting for over 50 fatalities — the vulnerability of children is starkly evident, with 21 victims under the age of 20.
The RTI response essentially confirms what many local activists have been arguing for years: that the current measures to control the stray dog population are falling short. From rural Palakkad to urban Ernakulam, the risk appears to touch every age group and social class. For the families of the 118 victims, these aren't just statistics; they are a call for urgent, more effective intervention to prevent more lives from being cut short on the streets of Kerala.
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