The Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (SC-NBWL) recently held its 60th meeting, where it approved an advisory for managing Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in India. A significant part of this meeting involved listing Caracal, a medium-sized wildcat, as critically endangered and making plans for its conservation under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat scheme.
Key Points of the Advisory
The advisory covers an array of topics to help manage human-wildlife conflict and conserve wildlife:
Empowering Gram Panchayats
The advisory empowers Gram Panchayats to deal with problematic wild animals under the guidelines of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Providing Insurance
This involves adding coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna for crop compensation in cases of damage from HWC.
Augmenting Fodder and Water Sources
Further recommendations include increasing the fodder and water sources in forest areas.
Proactive Measures
The advisory suggests proactive measures such as setting up inter-departmental committees at the local and state levels, early warning systems, and creating barrier solutions. The plan also includes establishing circle-wise Control Rooms with toll-free hotline numbers for any time access.
Instant Relief for Victims
A proposal was made for paying a portion of ex-gratia as an instant relief within 24 hours to victims or families affected by HWC.
About the Caracal Wild Cat
The Caracal wild cat is a slender, medium-sized cat species known for its long legs and tufted ears. This nocturnal and elusive animal is challenging to spot in the wild. In India, these cats are found only in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
Caracals are hunted for meat and skin and often killed when they prey on livestock. Despite this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List still describes Caracal as a species of ‘Least Concern.’ They are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and are also listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Understanding Human-Wildlife Conflict
Human-Wildlife conflict occurs when interactions between wild animals and humans have negative impacts on both.
This is primarily due to rapid urbanization and industrialisation leading to diversion of forest land to non-forest uses. This encroachment causes a shrinkage in wildlife habitats. Additionally, the growth of road and rail networks through forest ranges often results in roadkill or accidental injuries to animals. The growing population pressures also lead to human settlements cropping up near protected areas.
Recent Efforts to Manage Human-Wildlife Conflict
Several initiatives have been taken in recent years to mitigate such conflicts. For example, the Supreme Court has affirmed the Elephant’s right of passage and ordered the closure of resorts in the Nilgiris elephant corridor. Meanwhile, the Odisha Government has started enriching food stock for wild elephants by casting seed balls inside reserve forest areas.
The Uttarakhand government has executed bio-fencing to reduce man-animal conflict by growing certain plant species that prevent wildlife from entering residential areas. In 2018, Uttar Pradesh approved listing man-animal conflict under the State Disaster Response Fund’s disasters for better coordination during such incidents.
Lastly, in the Western Ghats, technology is being utilised for conservation efforts with an early warning system using text messages to alert residents about elephant movements.
