Human Wildlife Conflict: Challenges and Management

1. Human Wildlife Conflict: Challenges and Management P.R. Sinha

2. 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).

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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

6. The Global Scenario in Human-Wildlife Conflict • China • Rural inhabitants of the mountain area of Simao near the XishuangBannar 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)

7. 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)

8. 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

9. Management of Human-Nilgai Conflict Estimated population (Gujarat – 97,004)

10. Management of Human-Nilgai Conflict Estimated population (Haryana – 38,774)

11. Management of Human-Nilgai Conflict Estimated population (Madhya Pradesh – 60,677)

12. Management of Human-Nilgai Conflict Estimated population (Punjab – 10,312)

13. Management of Human-Nilgai Conflict Estimated population (Rajasthan – 41,434)

14. Management of Human-Nilgai Conflict Estimated population (Uttar Pradesh – 2,54,449)

15. Management of Human-Nilgai Conflict Estimated population (Uttarakhand – 7,728)

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. Outcome of the Orders Issued by the States Uttar Pradesh Number of Nilgai Eliminated • Mahoba - 1 • Etah - 250 • Rai-Bareilly - 15

21. 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

22. Discussion on Legal Options contd… • Lack of sustained efforts at local level…? • Strong religious sentiments against killing…? • Complicated paper work…? • High cost of eliminating the animal…? • Lack of coordination with district authorities…?

23. Discussion on Legal Options Will be problem be solved by declaring nilgai a vermin…?

24. Options for Mitigation… • Use of Fear provoking stimuli • Visual • Auditory • Olfactory (predator odours)

25. 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)

26. 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

27. Options for Mitigation… • Capture and translocation • Drop nets • Net gun • Rocket gun • Corrals

28. Options for Mitigation… • Chemical capture • Etorphine hydrochloride • Xylazine hydrochloride in combination with Ketamine • Meditomidine hydrochloride in combination with Ketamine

29. Options for Mitigation… • Fertility control • Mechanical and surgical techniques • Endocrine disruption • Immunocontraception • MGA (melengestrol acetate) Implants • PZP (Porcine ZonaPellucida) • GonaCon (A Ganadotropin releasing hormone GnRH) and Spay Vac (PZP + Liposome + adjuvant) (Single shot immunocontraceptive vaccines – under trial)

30. Options for Mitigation… The normal population growth pattern with two carrying capacity scenario and reproductive management of adult females at 20 to 80% level Reproductive Management

31. Options for Mitigation… 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 Sustained Off-take/harvesting

32. Options for Mitigation… The normal population growth pattern with reproductive management and combination of reproductive management and harvest Sustained RM/harvesting

33. Option for Managing Rhesus Macaques Simulated rhesus population growth and population management (reproductive management and removal) scenarios

34. HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - INDIA Management Species Country Successful Type Strengths Weakness Reference Practices

35. HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - INDIA Management Species Country Successful Type Strengths Weakness Reference Practices

36. HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - INDIA Management Species Country Successful Type Strengths Weakness Reference Practices

37. HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts – Outside India

38. HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India

39. HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India

40. HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India Management Species Country Successful Type Strengths Weakness Reference Practices

41. HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India Management Species Country Successful Type Strengths Weakness Reference Practices

42. HUMAN – WILDLIFE CONFLICTS (HWC) – Possible management practices so far used in minimizing such conflicts - Outside India Management Species Country Successful Type Strengths Weakness Reference Practices

43. The Way Forward…. • Community participation…? • Power fencing…? • Culling…? • Sterilization…? • Translocation…? • A combination of the above

44. Thank you…

46. 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.

47. 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