what is Human-Animal Conflict?

Human-wildlife conflict is when encounters between humans and wildlife lead to negative results, such as loss of property, livelihoods, and even life.

Human-Animal Conflict

A series of wild elephant attacks, followed by sightings of Tigers have been witnessed in Kerala, which has brought the Human-Animal conflict issue back to the fore in wildlife management plans.

Table of Contents

About Human-Animal Conflict

Human-wildlife conflict is when encounters between humans and wildlife lead to negative results, such as loss of property, livelihoods, and even life.
The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) defines Human-Animal conflict as, ‘struggles that emerge when the presence or behaviour of wildlife poses an actual or perceived, direct and recurring threat to human interests or needs, leading to disagreements between groups of people and negative impacts on people and/or wildlife.’

Human-Animal Conflict Causes

As human populations and demand for space continue to grow, people and wildlife are increasingly interacting and competing for resources, leading to conflicts.
Agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and climate change result in habitat loss.

Human-Animal Conflict Impacts

It can result in the decline and potential eradication of species.
Communities can experience financial losses and threats to health and safety, livelihoods, food security, and property.
On a larger scale, it places pressure on the global supply chain and production of agricultural goods, leading to food insecurity and decreased productivity among producers.

Human-Animal Conflict Solutions

There is a need to include the management of human-wildlife conflict in national policies and strategies to ensure resources are made available to stakeholders.

Measures can involve barriers (fences, nets, trenches), guarding and early-warning systems, deterrents and repellents (sirens, lights, beehives), translocation (moving wildlife), compensation or insurance, providing risk-reducing alternatives, as well as managing tensions between stakeholders involved in these situations.
Implementation of the above measures requires consideration of good principles in community led-conservation, in collaboration with the communities affected.
Collaborations could involve conservation practitioners, community leaders, governments, researchers, businesses and other stakeholders; and who have expertise in ecology, social psychology, economics, peacebuilding and environmental law.

India Specific Measures

The Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972, provides a legal framework to prohibit hunting and the establishment of protected areas.
The Indian Forest Act and Acts of State Governments facilitate the categorisation of forests for regulation of Forest resources.
National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) recognizes the need to reduce human-wildlife conflict and emphasises the establishment of effective compensation mechanisms.
The Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has issued an Advisory for the Management of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) for empowering Gram Panchayats, Providing Insurance coverage and Relief.