Human-wildlife conflict occurs when interactions between humans and wild animals have negative consequences for either party or the environment. In this study, researchers are examining human-wildlife conflicts around the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in India by conducting surveys in nearby villages. Some of the main causes of conflict identified are habitat loss due to human activities like mining and construction, and competition for scarce resources caused by overharvesting and depletion of natural food and water sources.
Human-wildlife conflict occurs when interactions between humans and wild animals have negative consequences for either party or the environment. In this study, researchers are examining human-wildlife conflicts around the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in India by conducting surveys in nearby villages. Some of the main causes of conflict identified are habitat loss due to human activities like mining and construction, and competition for scarce resources caused by overharvesting and depletion of natural food and water sources.
Human-wildlife conflict occurs when interactions between humans and wild animals have negative consequences for either party or the environment. In this study, researchers are examining human-wildlife conflicts around the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in India by conducting surveys in nearby villages. Some of the main causes of conflict identified are habitat loss due to human activities like mining and construction, and competition for scarce resources caused by overharvesting and depletion of natural food and water sources.
Human-wildlife conflict occurs when interactions between humans and wild animals have negative consequences for either party or the environment. In this study, researchers are examining human-wildlife conflicts around the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in India by conducting surveys in nearby villages. Some of the main causes of conflict identified are habitat loss due to human activities like mining and construction, and competition for scarce resources caused by overharvesting and depletion of natural food and water sources.
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Introduction
Human Wildlife conflict is any interaction between humans and wild
animals that has negative repercussions on either humans, animals or the environment. It is a serious problem which requires a high level of attention, study and steps towards reduction of the causes and the effects. The conflict can be in different forms such as degradation of habitat, competition for scarce resources, damage to crops and loss of life or injury to humans, wild animals and livestock. In our project we are conducting a study on the human wildlife conflicts around Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. Our main focus is on the villages that come within the radius of and around the sanctuary and national park. Some of these include Tambdi, Taide, Dharge, Collem, Shigao, etc (Check spellings). We have conducted a detailed study on the possible causes and effects of the conflict, based on which formed a questionnaire which helps us go about in these villages, gathering data so as to reach valid conclusions on what the real scenario is and how to address the issues. There are various reasons why human wildlife conflict may occur. Some of the possible causes could be habitat loss, competition for resources, insensitivity and lack of awareness on the part of humans, unplanned policies, system incompetence, etc. Habitat loss could be due do human activities like mining, tree felling, clearing of forest area for urbanization/housing or for cultivation. Competition for resources many be because of depletion of resources like food and water due to over harvesting, poaching, pollution, natural water table lowering, etc. Insensitivity can be towards animals as well as humans. Towards animals by inimical activities like littering, electrical fencing beyond the accepted voltage level, causing physical harm to the animals etc. Lack of awareness is on the terms of protected and endangered animals. Towards humans insensitivity by acts like corruption and improper usage of laws and policies. System incompetence could be in case of ineffective relocation, slow reaction time in case of conflict occurrence, insufficient and inefficient compensation system and untimely or absence of medical help. Unplanned policies can be on the lines of afforestation and compensation. Wildlife-human conflicts are a serious obstacle to wildlife conservation and the livelihoods of people worldwide and are becoming more prevalent as human population increases, development expands, and global climate changes and other human and environmental factors put people and wildlife in greater direct competition for a shrinking resource base. Conflicts between wildlife and humans cost many lives, both human and wildlife, threaten livelihoods, and jeopardize long-term conservation goals such as securing protected areas and building constituencies in support of biodiversity conservation.
Human-Wildlife Conflict is any interaction between wildlife and humans
which causes harm, whether it is to the human, the wild animal, or property. (Property includes buildings, equipment, livestock and pets, crops fields or fences.) Some examples of human-wildlife conflict include:
Predation on livestock or domestic animals by wildlife
Ungulate damage crops and fences Flooding caused by beavers Wildlife strewing about residential garbage Squirrels or bats in home attics Birds nesting in undesirable residential locations Vehicle/wildlife collisions
Man-animal conflicts are common in various parts of the country. In India,
wild elephants probably kill far more people than tiger, leopard or lion. But, surprisingly, human conflict involving leopard draws great amount of public attention compared to other animals. Other carnivores - tigers, lions and wolves, which have been known for causing a large number of human deaths in the past, are now mostly restricted in range and their impact is not as widespread as that of the leopard. The key reasons for human-animal conflict are encroachment of human being in wildlife habitat for development purpose & survival purpose as well as allowing livestock for grazing purpose in the forest area, forest fire. This conflict leads to loss to both human & animal. The result of this conflict is severe which result into the loss to crops of farmers and decline in wildlife conservation as well. Among these the human leopard conflict is common in many States. The incidences of killing of leopard by public have been hitting headlines of news media. Analysis of the data collected in the form of questionnaire Development activities cause more interference in forest and also the privacy of wildlife and these ultimately cause conflict with wildlife. Mananimal conflict often takes place when wild animals cause damage to agricultural crop and property, killing of livestock and human beings. Human population growth, land use transformation, species loss of habitat, ecotourism, too much access to reserves, increase in livestock population bordering the forest, depletion of natural prey base etc., often stated to be reasons for such conflict. Central Govt. the State Governments, and the Union Territories should evolve better preservation strategies, in consultation with Wildlife Boards so that such conflicts can be avoided to a large extent. Participation of people who are staying in the Community Reserves is also of extreme importance.
Environmental justice could be achieved only if we drift away from the
principle like sustainable development, polluter pays principle, precautionary principles which are based in the interest of humans and environment. Eco centrism is nature centered where humans are part of nature and non-human has intrinsic value. In other words, human interest does not take automatic precedence and humans have obligations to non-humans independently of human interest. Eco centrism is therefore life centered, nature-centered where nature includes both human and non-humans. More development activity causes more interference in forest and the privacy of wild life. These ultimately cause conflict with wildlife. Development of people is always welcome but not at the cost of negative ecological aspect in the ecosystem.