Nilgiris see 36 deaths due to man-animal conflict in last two years

A total of thirty-six people were killed by wild animals in the Nilgiris in 2015-16 and forest officials feel this is due to the man-animal conflict arising from change in land use pattern and crop cultivation close to reserve forest areas. Moreover, in spite of being cautioned, the locals venture into forest lands.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 5 February 2017.

While the past two years saw 18 human deaths each in the Nilgiris, the total number in 2014 was 12. Most of the deaths in the past two years were due to elephant attacks, that too in private lands where the animals had strayed into. With regular increase in the population of both animal and human, the conflict arises when resources are shared.
Another reason is the fragmentation of undeveloped lands. The animals are attracted by banana, sugarcane, paddy and coconut cultivation in the fringe areas of forest and intrude into these areas in search of food and in the process destroy the fields also.


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Odisha facing man-animal conflicts with elephants

Odisha has taken a number of actions to prevent man-animal conflict with elephants. They have dug elephant trenches and installed solar fencing to prevent elephants from coming into human habitation and elephant trackers are also working regularly to drive the elephants away. But there is little improvement.
In the latest incident, over the past two days a herd of elephants have kept the National Highway near Khuntuni blocked for over two hours and, as a result, hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the road. The forest department's elephant tracking squad could do very little to drive the herd away.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 1 March 2017.

The location is the Athgarh division and it has been witnessing these problems over the past few years because the elephants of Chandaka wildlife sanctuary keep straying into the region for food. AT present there is a herd of around 22 elephants in the locality.
Over the past one year the area has witnessed several cases of man-animal conflicts in which two elephants got electrocuted and four persons were killed. As per government data, Athgarh forest division itself has 114 resident elephants.


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Farmers in Hassan incur losses due to insufficient rainfall and elephant menace

Farmers in several parts of Hassan in Karnataka have incurred huge losses following a dip in yield which is attributable to insufficient rainfall coupled with the elephant menace. The farmers have to protect their crops from elephants because many herds have been entering the paddy fields in recent days.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 15 December 2016.

A group of six elephants entered the paddy fields of two farmers and devoured almost 50 per cent of the yield stored there. The farmers complain that after working hard to grow paddy in spite of scanty rainfall, the elephants are taking away a major portion of the yield putting the farmers at a disadvantage.
The farmers have been fighting the elephant menace for many years now and more than 40 people have died in elephant attacks in the last 10 years. An equal number of elephants have also died due to man-animal conflict. In order to contain the menace, last year, 22 elephants were captured and relocated. But, the problem remains since the elephant population is consistently on the rise. Many of the farmers want that the government provide proper compensation to those who have suffered losses owing to the elephants menace.


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Leopards in search of food on the prowl in streets of Gujarat

Leopards in Gujarat have taken to the streets in search of food and are coming exceedingly close to human settlements. A pre-census estimation by the forest department has indicated a 50% rise in leopard count in revenue areas, namely human settlements near cities and big towns of Gujarat.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 12 May 2016.

As per the leopard census of 2011, there were 1,160 big cats in the state out of which 290 or a quarter were spotted in revenue areas. The pre-census estimates ahead of Census 2016 that is to take place between May 20-22 has pegged a 50% rise. A rough estimate is a count of between 1,350 and 1,400 and, out of these, 450-odd are believed to be living outside forest areas closer to human habitat.
Areas like Amreli in Saurashtra and Narmada and Bharuch in south Gujarat have much greater leopard density in revenue areas. This growth in revenue areas could translate into increase in incidents of man-animal conflict in future. At present, there is an average of one leopard attack once in three days in the state. In 2015-16, 12 persons were killed and 107 attacked by leopards.
In the opinion of a National Board of Wildlife member and expert on big cats, leopards are moving out of sanctuaries in search of food and territory. Gir forest has a rich prey base of deer, rabbits, cheetal and other small animals. However, the negligible ungulate population in other sanctuaries is forcing these leopards to move closer to human habitats in search of prey, especially dogs.


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