Negotiating hard edges in the home of tigers
Human-tiger interaction is a complex issue that needs to be addressed proactively to maintain long-term support of the local people in tiger conservation and management efforts in protected areas.
Struggles for survival
The explosion in human and livestock population along forest edges, with the rising demand for agricultural and grazing land, exerts tremendous biotic pressure on the resources of the forest. As the human population encroaches natural habitats, people and wildlife increasingly compete over living spaces and food resources. When the ecological needs of tigers — large areas of forest and abundant large prey — are not met in their disturbed ecosystems, they are forced to stray out into human settlements. These increasing encounters often pose serious threats to their own lives as well as that of humans and their livestock.
Human-tiger interactions have been on the rise in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, reputed worldwide for its high density of tigers. A recent study found that 27 cases of attacks on humans, out of which 11 were lethal, 1,603 cases of livestock predation, and five cases of poaching and revenge killing of tigers were reported in the area between 2001 and 2011.
Understanding interfaces
Illegal entry of humans into the core and buffer area of the reserve was observed to be the major reason behind the attacks. Large herds of poor quality cattle that graze in and around the tiger reserve are easy targets for a roaming tiger. Poor livestock shelter and the absence of the practice of stall-feeding too seemed to trigger the lifting and mauling of cattle by the predators. People also entered the core zones to collect minor forest produce which, though restricted, is difficult to prevent being one of the major sources of their livelihood. People also seemed to frequent these zones for their daily needs.
Despite the negative impacts, however, the majority of the people in the area seemed to be tolerant of loss and felt the necessity for tiger conservation. Since encounters with people and their livestock is a significant source of mortality for tigers in the area, there is an urgent need for a concerted effort to control and manage the issue.
► Controlled grazing and rangeland management practices along with proper housing of livestock need to be implemented. ► Crossbreeding programmes need to be adopted to promote high yielding cattle instead of a large number of less productive stock. ► Toilets need to be constructed and its use promoted in the fringe villages to prevent people from roaming around the forest areas for defecation. ►Wildlife habitat improvement and community-based conservation activities can promote human-wildlife coexistence and conservation welfare. |
Reference
Chouksey, S. & S. Singh (2018). Assessment on the impacts of human-tiger conflict and community-based conservation in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 10(7): 11844–11849; https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3015.10.7.11844-11849