Transcript ***********R

Human Wildlife Conflict:
Challenges and Management
P.R. Sinha
Human-Wildlife Conflict

Human-wildlife conflict occurs when wildlife
requirements encroach on those of human
populations, with costs both to residents and
wild animals (IUCN 2005).

All continents and countries whether
developed or developing, are affected by
human wildlife conflict (Human Wildlife Conflict
in Africa, FAO Forestry Paper 157).
The Global Scenario in
Human-Wildlife Conflict
USA

Annual Estimate of damage to agriculture
producers around US $ 4.5 billion

1.5 million deer – vehicle collisions/ year, Annual
Loss – US $ 1.6 billion
(Dr. Tara Teel et al, Colorado State University)

In Idaho, Montana and Wyoming wolves killed
728 animals (sheep, cattle) between 1987-2001
(Musiani et al, 2003)
The Global Scenario in
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Europe

In France (2007) damage to crops by wild boar
and deer amounted to € 23 million.

In Slovenia compensation for damage by large
predator in 2000-03 exceeded € 706,000.
(FAO, F.P. 157)
The Global Scenario in
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Australia

Production losses in 80’s were estimated to be
US $ 20 million/ year for South Australia alone.

Losses to wool industry estimated at US $ 115
million/year.

Kangaroos cause huge damage to crops and
compete for forage with sheep.

Approx. 9 millions kangaroos eliminated each
year
The Global Scenario in
Human-Wildlife Conflict
China

Rural inhabitants of the mountain area of Simao
near the Xishuang Bannar Nature Reserve,
claimed that elephants damage reduced the
community’s annual income in 2000 by 28 to 48
percent and the total economic losses between
1996 and 1999 amounted to US $ 314,600
(Zang and Wang 2003)
The Global Scenario in
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Africa

Crop damage is the most prevalent form of human
wildlife conflict across the African continent. In
some semi arid rural farming areas of Zimbabwe
and Kenya, elephant damage to food crops
accounts for 75 to 90 percent of all damage caused
by large mammals.
(Hoare and Mackie 1993)
The Indian Scenario in
Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)
India

Almost entire country affected by HWC in
varying degrees

Major species involved are: Leopard, Snow
Leopard, Tiger, Wolf, Elephant, Black Buck, Wild
Ass, Sloth Bear, Brown Bear, Rhesus and Bonnet
Macaques, Blue Bull and Wild Pig
Management of
Human-Nilgai Conflict
▀
Estimated population (Gujarat – 97,004)
Management of
Human-Nilgai Conflict
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Estimated population (Haryana – 38,774)
Management of
Human-Nilgai Conflict
▀
Estimated population (Madhya Pradesh – 60,677)
Management of
Human-Nilgai Conflict
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Estimated population (Punjab – 10,312)
Management of
Human-Nilgai Conflict
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Estimated population (Rajasthan – 41,434)
Management of
Human-Nilgai Conflict
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Estimated population (Uttar Pradesh – 2,54,449)
Management of
Human-Nilgai Conflict
▀
Estimated population (Uttarakhand – 7,728)
Response of States to the Problems
Gujarat

The State Government of Gujarat has appointed
Sarpanchs of 1545 villages as Honorary Wildlife
Warden under Section 4(1)(bb) and empowered
Chief Wildlife Warden under Section 5(2) to
delegate his powers to Sarpanchs under Section
11(1)(B) to allow hunting of Nilgai in their
respective areas.
Response of States to the Problems
Haryana

The State Government of Haryana has
authorized Divisional Forest Officers to issue
permits for elimination of problem animals on
the recommendation of concerned panchyats.
Response of States to the Problems
Uttarakhand

Chief Wildlife Warden has authorized all the
Divisional Forest Officers to allow killing of
nilgai after due verification of report from
concerned gram pradhan.
Response of States to the Problems
Uttar Pradesh

The Government/ Chief Wildlife Warden has
authorized the District Collectors and Block
Development Officers to allow killing of
problem nilgai.
Outcome of the Orders Issued by the States
Uttar Pradesh
Number of Nilgai Eliminated

Mahoba
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1
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Etah
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250
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Rai-Bareilly
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15
Outcome of the Orders Issued by the States
Gujarat
Number of Nilgai Eliminated

Unofficial reports of elimination of nilgai in
Sundernagar district by the hiring Dafers (a
tribe of hunter) by local people
Discussion on Legal Options

Lack of sustained efforts at local level…?
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Strong religious sentiments against killing…?
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Complicated paper work…?

High cost of eliminating the animal…?
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Lack of coordination with district authorities…?
contd…
Discussion on Legal Options
Will be problem be solved by
declaring nilgai a vermin…?
Options for Mitigation…
▀ Use
of Fear provoking stimuli
• Visual
• Auditory
• Olfactory (predator odours)
Options for Mitigation…
▀ Chemical repellents
• Deer-Away Big Game Repellent (BGR)
&
Predator odours (reduced deer damage by
60%) in white tailed deer in North America
(Hain & Conover, 1995)
Options for Mitigation…
▀ Traditional
chain link fencing and
pulsating power fencing
• Effective world wide
• Eight strand power fencing effective in
containing nilgai
• Cost per km 2.50 lakhs
Options for Mitigation…
▀ Capture
•
•
•
•
and translocation
Drop nets
Net gun
Rocket gun
Corrals
Options for Mitigation…
▀ Chemical capture
• Etorphine hydrochloride
• Xylazine hydrochloride in combination with
Ketamine
• Meditomidine hydrochloride in combination with
Ketamine
Options for Mitigation…
▀ Fertility control
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mechanical and surgical techniques
Endocrine disruption
Immunocontraception
MGA (melengestrol acetate) Implants
PZP (Porcine Zona Pellucida)
GonaCon (A Ganadotropin releasing hormone
GnRH) and Spay Vac (PZP + Liposome + adjuvant)
(Single shot immunocontraceptive vaccines – under
trial)
Options for Mitigation…
▀
Reproductive Management
The normal population growth pattern with two carrying capacity scenario and reproductive
management of adult females at 20 to 80% level
Options for Mitigation…
▀ Sustained
Off-take/harvesting
Normal growth pattern with two carrying capacity scenario and harvesting (removal) of
sub-adults/adults (>2 yrs age) with harvest (removal) varying from 20 to 90% level
Options for Mitigation…
▀ Sustained
RM/harvesting
The normal population growth pattern with reproductive management and combination of
reproductive management and harvest
Option for Managing Rhesus Macaques
Simulated rhesus population growth and population management
(reproductive management and removal) scenarios
HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management
practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - INDIA
Management
Practices
Species
Country
Successful Type
Strengths
Weakness
Reference
HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management
practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - INDIA
Management
Practices
Species
Country
Successful Type
Strengths
Weakness
Reference
HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management
practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - INDIA
Management
Practices
Species
Country
Successful Type
Strengths
Weakness
Reference
HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management
practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts – Outside India
HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management
practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India
HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management
practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India
HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management
practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India
Management
Practices
Species
Country
Successful
Type
Strengths
Weakness
Reference
HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management
practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India
Management
Practices
Species
Country
Successful
Type
Strengths
Weakness
Reference
HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management
practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India
Management
Practices
Species
Country
Successful
Type
Strengths
Weakness
Reference
The Way Forward….

Community participation…?
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Power fencing…?
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Culling…?

Sterilization…?

Translocation…?

A combination of the above
Thank you…
Conflicts with Leopards in
human dominated landscapes
▀
Leopards being generalist
occupy niches of all kind
ranging from scrub to forested
habitats
▀
Conflict is mainly due to loss
of wild prey species by
poaching, degradation of
habitat; dependency of forest
resources by the local people.
▀
Conflict is due to loss of
livestock or human life.
Conflicts with Leopards in
human dominated landscapes
Institute has undertaken a research project for understanding Human-leopard
conflicts with respect to ecological and biological aspects in Pauri Garhwal,
Uttaranchal. A simple brochure has been prepared for minimizing such conflicts
in Himalayas.
Suggestions:
▀ Immediate intervention and provide relief for loss of
livestock or human life
▀ Most of the suggestions are site specific and need
has been felt for construction of latrines for each
house hold especially located in remote areas
▀ With draw gun licenses in areas of high to medium
conflict zones
▀ Conduct Conservation Education program for the
ways to reduce the conflict with leopard and
consequences of poaching of wild prey species