The Minister of State for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change recently relayed disconcerting news to the Lok Sabha concerning an escalating number of human-animal conflicts.
Understanding Human-Animal Conflict
Human-animal conflict embodies direct or recurring threats to human interests by wildlife. It’s the disagreements that arise due to these threats causing negative impacts on both humans and wildlife.
Primary Causes of Human-Animal Conflict
Several factors contribute to this growing issue including habitat loss, increase in wild animal populations, change in cropping patterns that attract wild animals, migration of wild animals to human-dominated landscapes for resources, illegal forest produce collection by humans, and habitat degradation due to growth of invasive alien species.
The Consequences of Human-Animal Conflict
This conflict is not without significant impact. Effects include loss of life, injury to both humans and animals, damage to crops and agriculture land, and a rise in violence against animals.
Statistical Insights into Human-Animal Conflict
Data reveals that between 2018-19 and 2020-21, 222 elephants were killed by electrocution across India. In addition, poaching claimed the lives of 29 tigers between 2019 and 2021, while 197 tiger deaths are under investigation. Regarding human casualties, elephants killed 1,579 people over three years. Tigers also contributed to the death toll, killing 125 people in reserves between 2019 and 2021. Among the states, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal reported the highest numbers of deaths, while almost half of the tiger-inflicted fatalities occurred in Maharashtra.
Addressing Conflict: Key Initiatives and Measures
To address the issue, the Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife issued an Advisory for Management of Human-Wildlife Conflict. This advisory suggests empowering gram panchayats as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to deal with problematic wild animals. It also recommends providing insurance against crop damage due to wildlife, augmenting fodder and water sources within forests, creating inter-departmental committees at local/state level, adopting early warning systems, identifying hotspots, providing instant relief to victims, and establishing dedicated control rooms.
Looking Ahead: Preventive Measures and Long-term Solutions
Mitigation forms the most prevalent strategy to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Educating and sensitizing the public about the issue can inspire long-term, sustainable solutions over merely addressing symptoms. Ensuring adequate space for both humans and wildlife is crucial, thus protecting wildlands and natural habitats becomes key. Equally important are buffer zones between urban and wild areas.
Clarification on Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC)
For further context, it’s worth noting a common misconception about TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. Contrary to belief, it is not a bureau under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), but rather a joint program of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and IUCN – the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Created in 1976, TRAFFIC’s mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals does not threaten nature conservation. It addresses globally urgent species trade issues such as tiger parts, elephant ivory, and rhino horn, as well as large scale commercial trade in commodities like timber and fisheries products.