Tracing the evolution of human-wildlife conflict

What is humanwildlife conflictThe Worldwide Fund for Nature defines humananimal conflict as a fight over living space and food As human populations grow and natural habitats shrink people and animals are increasingly in conflict with both losing their livesDr Vinaya Jangale Livestock Development Officer Khed recalled the case of a herd of elephants that had strayed into Sawantwadi They were successfully herded back into Karnataka where they came from Jangale saidThey would enter a farm every night and drink water from a tank They did not damage property or crops but the farmer put a live wire around the tank to stop them The intelligent and vindictive animals then kept going to the farmers house at night to try and break itAnish Andheria president Wildlife Conservation Trust says humanwildlife conflicts occur because of fragmentation of forests illegal grazing forest fires lit on purpose and when people go into protected areas to collect woodHow a rogue big cat is captured1 Camera traps are set up near the kill site to confirm the ID of the animal Until the animal is identified from pictures it is not advisable to tranquilise it2 Sometimes fresh bait is put up in an adjacent cage3 If trapping fails chemical immobilisation tranquilising is done4 If the captured big cat is healthy it is released after it is microchipped away from human settlementsUstad behind barsKedar Gore director Corbett Foundation narrates the case of Ustad a beautiful tiger in Ranthambore National Park to illustrate what happens to animals captured in humanwildlife conflicts Tagged maneater he was relocated then kept in captivity There still are fights over translocating himWhile Ustad continues to be alive in captivity a leopard Gore says was not solucky It was captured and caged to be taken away from the area where it was said to have killed humans Gore says furious with the FDs delay in capturing the animal locals set the cage afire killing it and even threatened rangers with the sameHow the issue is tackled abroadBotswanaThe preventive strategies in 2016 included the use of chilli pepper to deter elephants the use of herding dogs to guard against predators construction of kraals and ploughing early maturing seeds and bee keeping Dogs had also been provided to deter wild animals The dogs were provided food by authorities The Botswana Predator Conservation Trust even helped some farmers to paint eyes on their cattle to deter lionsNamibiaThe Desert Lions Human Relations Aid DeLHRA reports The Guardian has suggested that people cover kraals where they keep their livestock with cloth Lions then view it as solid They also gave farmers solarpowered lights sirens air horns and other measures to ward off lionsTanzaniaThe Ruaha Carnivore Project began predatorproofing livestock enclosures in 2012 Fortifying these enclosures with chainlink fencing has proven effective in protecting livestockHow a rogue elephant is capturedA rogue elephant is tranquilised before capture1 Rogue elephants are captured with the help of kumkis or trained elephants2 After trapping it it is tied with ropes and a kraal wooden cage is built around it3 After it is kept there for a while it is released into denser forests or sent to a zoo or trained for workForest department staff are trained and have good equipment So the contrary allegations by the Nawab are false But we need a task force for such situations We also need a vet at district level to help with wild animalsDr Vinaya JangaleLivestock Development Officer KhedT1s taleThe tigress is said to have killed 13 people since 2016 She moved to Pandharkawda from the nearby Tipeshwar Wildlife sanctuary around 70 km from the conflict zone It is speculated that her mother pushed her out and in search of her own territory she moved to Pandharkawada where she now roams with two 10monthold cubs Officials feel she might be teaching the cubs to hunt and might make them too fear humans lessLocals are being educated on how to coexist with wildlife but the conflicts will not stop until their dependence on forests goes downAnish Andheria President Wildlife Conservation TrustMany humanwildlife conflict incidents are localised Every taluka has animal husbandry veterinarians They should be trained to deal with wildlife There is also the need for a rapid action team to help with such situationsVidya Athreya Centre for Wildlife StudiesOur forest departments FD have enough manpower and are capable We also have scientific knowhow Only they should react faster But there is a need for a special task force to deal with humanwildlife conflict A hunter like Nawab Shafat Ali Khan should not be called againKedar GoreDirectorCorbett FoundationCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates