2.
1 Introduction
Human-wildlife conflict is fast becoming a critical threat to the survival of many endangered
species, like wild buffalo, elephants, tiger, lion, leopard etc. such conflicts affect not only its
population but also has broadened environmental impacts on ecosystem equilibrium and
biodiversity conservation. Laws are man-made, hence there is likelihood of anthropocentric
bias towards man, and rights of wild animals often tend to be of secondary importance. But
in
the universe man and animal are equally placed, but human rights approach to
environmental
protection in case of conflict, is often based on anthropocentricity.
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.
2.3 Reasons for Human Animal Conflict
1. Road Kills:-
India's road network is expanding at a monstrous scale due to the expanding economy and
increase in vehicular traffic. The traffic density is growing at the rate of ten per cent
annually.
Some of this road network is being expanded through protected areas. Apart from
fragmentation, roads are becoming a serious threat to wildlife as several wild animals are
killed on a daily basis by speeding vehicles. Vehicles today travel at high speeds and this
combined with poor eyesight and slow response time of animals results in the death of
innumerable wildlife
2. Livestock grazing
Livestock grazing in forests leads to human-wildlife conflict as carnivores are attracted
towards the easy prey and become direct enemies of livestock graziers. Grazing by livestock
has severely threatened our wildlife and their habitats in various ways. The most noticeable
effect is the decline of wild herbivore populations as they have to compete with livestock for
their food source. As more cattle graze and nibble the natural vegetation there is less
palatable
biomass for wild herbivores. As livestock eliminate palatable native plant species often
unpalatable species of plants invade the area
3. Increase in Human population:
The increasing human population has also led to an increase in requirements of people. The
settlements have also started expanding in urban and rural parts to meet the pace of
growing
populations. Many settlements have come up near the peripheries of protected areas,
encroaching the forest areas and using it for their own benefit.
2.4 Overview of the human – animal conflict worldwide
In this sub chapter author focused on the overview of the human animal conflict worldwide
to
highlight common problems across local, regional and national levels.
2.4.1 Overview of the human – animal conflict in Africa:
Africa the great dependence of a large proportion of the human population for their
survival on the land, coupled with the presence of many species of large mammal leads to
many sources of conflict between people and wildlife. This in turn creates increasing friction
between protected area managers, and local communities living in the regions that border
these protected areas.
2.4.2 Overview of the human – animal conflict in Asia:
1. China
Asian Elephant Conflict in China
Most people associate China and elephants with the demand for ivory. However, although
China only has a small number of elephants it is one of the only range states where
numbers
are on the rise.
Manslaughter by Elephants
Each year, Asian elephants directly cause hundreds of human deaths through HEC.
Compare
this to the human death toll from shark attacks, which is usually under 12 a year, and you
get
some idea of the scale of the problem. In India alone, recorded deaths from elephants
number
between 150 and 200 per year. Not all these deaths can be attributed to crop or village
raiding.
About half are caused by chance encounters in the forest, when humans are not aware of
the
presence of elephants until it is too late.
2. India
Man-animal conflict often results not because animals encroach human territories but vice-
versa. Often, man thinks otherwise, because man's thinking is rooted in anthropocentrism.
Remember, we are talking about the conflict between man and endangered species,
endangered not because of natural causes alone but because man failed to preserve and
protect
them, the attitude was destructive, for pleasure and gain. Often, it is said such conflicts is
due
human population growth, land use transformation, species habitat loss, degradation and
fragmentation, increase in eco-tourism, access to natural reserves, increase in livestock
population, etc. Proper management practices have to be accepted, like conservation
education for local population, resettlement of villages, curbing grazing by livestock and
domestic animals in forest, etc., including prey-preservation for the wild animals. Provision
for availability of natural water, less or no disturbance from the tourists has to be assured.
State also has to take steps to remove encroachments and, if necessary, can also cancel the
patta already granted and initiate acquisition proceedings to preserve and protect wildlife
and
its corridors. Areas outside PAs is reported to have the maximum number of man- animal
conflict, they fall prey to poachers easily, and often invite ire of the cultivators when they
cause damage to their crops. These issues have to be scientifically managed so as to
preserve
and protect the endangered species, like wild buffalo and other species included in Schedule
1
Part 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, as well as other species which face extinction
2.5 Analysis
Development activities cause more interference in forest and also the privacy of wildlife and
these ultimately cause conflict with wildlife. Man-animal 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, eco-
tourism, 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.
