RECENT CASE STUDIES on HUMAN
WILDLIFE CONFLICT in INDIA
Introduction:
Biodiversity is the diversity of and in living
nature, defining biodiversity is not simple
the living beings range from very small
microbes to large size mammals . However
in Earth Summit 1992 biodiversity was
defined as ‘ Variability among living
organisms from all sources including inter-
alia , terrestrial , marine and ecological
complexes which includes diversity within
species , between species and of
ecosystems’. However in the contemporary
times there has been a negative interaction
between human beings and wildlife which is
known as “Human Wildlife Conflict”.
Various Factors are responsible for this
conflict such as growing population overlap
with the established wildlife territory ,
creating reduction of resources of wildlife.
Human–wildlife conflict is defined by the
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as "any
interaction between humans and wildlife
that results in negative impacts on human
social, economic or cultural life, on the
conservation of wildlife populations, or on
the environment”.
:Recent Cases of Human Wildlife Conflict :
In the above graph it can be seen
that human leopards conflicts are
the highest followed by tigers and
elephants.
Reasons for Human -elephant conflict –
They prefer to stay near water. They are
considered to be keystone species due to
their impact on their environments. As
Asian elephants are herbivorous and
require a rich forest for their survival, the
deforestation forcing them to enter the
human population for searching adequate
amount of food which has been creating the
Human-Elephant conflict. In the present
scenario, it is observed that the conflict is
increasing day-by-day in Kerala.
Reasons for Human – leopards
conflicts- leopards are threatened by
deforestation and pest control Their
habitats are fragmented and they are
illegally hunted so that their pelts may be
sold in wildlife trade for medicinal practices
and decoration.
Reasons for Human –Tiger Conflict -
This cryptic carnivore occupies only the
best habitat with highest quality of cover,
water, prey, peace and mate, i.e inviolate
space. Tiger presence signifies a rich and
vibrant forest. It is the best indicator of a
thriving ecosystem and rich biodiversity-
grass, herbs, climbers, abundant prey base
and presence of water. That is why tiger
conservation can be safely equated with
"Water Conservation" which is the crying
need of the hour and is essential for the
survival of the human race.
Strategies for Managing the conflict:
Habitat Conservation & Land-Use Planning,
Physical Barriers & Deterrents , Livestock &
Crop Protection Measures, Early Warning &
Monitoring Systems, Rapid Response Teams
& Conflict Resolution
Conclusion :
Major wildlife causing conflicts are
Elephant, wild boar, monkey and snakes.
There are no identified man eating Tiger in
Kerala nor are there known rogue elephant.
However, in the past, there have been
incidences where tiger and leopard straying
into human habitation are not sheared nor
are there well structured protocols for
mitigation of Human-Wildlife conflicts. The
main reasons for Human-Wildlife conflicts
are fragmentation of habitats, dispersed
human hamlets across forest, high density
of people in the forest fringes, change of
land use pattern in the proximity of forest
along with life style changes of farmers,
increased waste accumulation, dependency
on forest for collection of NTFPs and
seasonal migration of animals (elephants
from Mudumalai and Bandipur into Kerala).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Ackerman, BB, Lindzey, FG, Hemker, TP, 1984.
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Management. 48(1): 147-155.
2. Belsky, J.M. 1999. Misrepresenting communities:
The politics of community- based rural ecotourism in
Gales pont manatee, Belize. Rural Socio. 64(4): 600-
623
3.Campbell, L. 1999. Ecotourism in rural developing
countries. Annal. Tourism Res. 26: 534-553.
