74

Chapter 5 The Case Study

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Classification of Indian Leopard

5.3 Impact of Leopard on Human being

5.4 Human impacts on leopard

5.5 Human animal conflict in Karad- The case study

In this chapter the researcher has done the imperial research of leopard as example to fortify

the research. The research involves the case study of Karad which is 175 Km away from Pune

District. The reason behind selecting the city of Karad to do a case study is that there are two

cases reported in Karad Taluka regarding leopard killing as well as there is conflict between

human & leopard killing. The reason to select the leopard for study purposes is that leopard &

human conflict is common in most parts of India.

People in Karad make a living through agriculture and animal husbandry. At one end of the

spectrum, rich farmers focus on lucrative sugarcane and imported Jersey cattle while at the

other end; poor survive on marginal rain-fed agriculture and graze goats, cattles on the

scrubby hill slopes. Locals know there are leopards around, some have seen them, others have

heard of them and some have lost calves, dogs or goats

75

5.1 Introduction

The Indian Leopard Known by its zoological name Panthera is listed as a species of near

threatened by the IUCN red list. In India, this species is listed in Schedule I of the Indian

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, under the highest level of protection. Habitat destruction, loss

of wild prey, poaching for skins, bones and claws, and poisoning carcasses of livestock killed

by leopards are significant threat to the species. As a result the geographic ranges of leopard

have contracted and their populations have declined.204

Every creature has its definite place in Nature's great balanced scheme of wild life, and even

the leopard, despite his numerous detractors, has ample justification for his existence. The

leopard is certainly no more popular in the Indian jungle than is the policeman in the Indian

village, but he (Leopard) is there for the definite reason that, unless deer, pigs and monkeys

can be taught the principles of birth-control, some check must be put upon their unlimited

increase if the jungle is to continue to be able to support them all. And the leopard, like the

Indian policeman, has some very fine qualities. He is generally courageous to a degree, and

his physical fitness would put the ordinary human athlete to shame. Further, he can climb

trees with the greatest ease; he has marvellous patience when hunting; he can live for days at a

stretch without water; and he can conceal himself, thanks largely to his extremely useful

spotted coat with which a kindly Nature has endowed him, in a way which is the constant

envy of the human hunter, scout or soldier.205

In addition the mother leopardess shows great devotion to her cubs, for whom she will fight

till the last gasp, and the whole leopard race would take a very high place in a beauty

competition for animals.

From man's point of view, also, the leopard has his bad qualities. Leopard is particularly fond

of dog-flesh, and many are the loyal and trusted canine friends of man which have ended their

career in the stomach of a prowling leopard. Again some leopards, generally of a lazy and

debased type, discover that in preference to the comparatively hard work of stalking alert wild

animals it is much easier to catch and devour the numerous cattle which are so carelessly left

about in the neighborhood of Indian villages. They undoubtedly do a good deal of harm in this

way, although the fault is not entirely theirs but often lies at the door of those cattle-owners

204

Mondal, Krishnendu, Ecology of leopard (Panthera Pardus) in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, University

of Rajasthan

205 James Champion, "What is the Use of Leopards?‖ (1934)

76

who place temptation in the way by carelessly leaving their cattle unattended at night, in

places where they know perfectly well there is considerable risk from a wandering leopard.206

There is an urgent need to conserve many carnivore species including leopard and the first

step towards this is to obtain knowledge about their basic biology.

Leopards are a highly adaptable species that live in and around many human dominated,

agricultural landscapes. It is a daunting challenge to ensure the peaceful coexistence of

leopards among high densities of humans of the order of 200 or more to a sq.km. Research

indicates that even in such high human density areas, attacks on humans and domestic animals

in most cases can be kept to very low levels. The goodwill and trust of people especially in

rural areas are vital to dealing with crisis situations arising out of loss of life and livestock by

leopards in rural areas. The Forest departments are the first to face the heat of the public

reactions and require the goodwill and confidence of the rural community much more than

any other government department.207

The foremost learning is that it is not the absence of prey inside the forests, but the abundance

of prey in the towns that encourages leopards (and wolves and hyenas) to live alongside

humans. It is futile to manage leopards without first cleaning up the garbage and thereby

controlling the numbers of stray dogs and pigs who live off the garbage. Moreover, livestock

must be secured in paddocks for the night, which the Akola people now do and hence there

are no conflicts208

.

Elsewhere, when leopards are spotted in the fields, the forest department hauls the animals

away to a forest. But this has been found to pose a threat to human life.

The leopard is increasingly being persecuted for the trade compared to even tigers and it is

necessary that changes in management strategies now target the species instead of individuals

who have come into conflict with humans.

It is often surmised that leopards ―stray‖ into villages and towns because infrastructure

projects such as dams and mines deprive them of home and prey. Some activists have called

for the restoration of connectivity between forest fragments and a stop to further forest loss.209

As juvenile leopards reach adulthood, these highly territorial animals need to find new land to

claim as their own. It is only natural that they explore agricultural areas adjoining forests,

206

http://wild-cat.org/pardus/leopards/ (accessed on 23rd

Jan 2013) 207

http://moef.nic.in/downloads (Visited on 15th

Oct 2012) 208

Supra 205 209

Global Animal, Daily news Magazine, from pets to wildlife, ,11 Feb 2011

77

where there is food and shelter. If left unmolested, they may settle down to live with humans

without causing a problem.210

The irrigation projects of the mid-1980s changed cropping patterns in this part of

Maharashtra: tall, dense standing sugarcane began to dominate the landscape.

This is also the time when the locals say that leopards began to live amongst them. Yet, over

the last 20 years, the people suffered little anxiety. Astonishingly, leopards are even hunting

in Akola town because of the concentration of stray dogs and feral pigs. Studying situations

such as this, we have learnt that leopards are quite at home in the absence of forest and wild

prey.211

Further insights into the lives and needs of these cats that live with humans will enable better

management of leopard-man conflict in the future.

The reason to select the leopard as study purposes is that leopard & human conflict is

common in most parts of India. In this chapter the researcher has done the imperial research

of leopard as example to fortify the research. The research involves the case study of Karad

which is 175 Km away from Pune District. The reason behind selecting the city of Karad to

do a case study is that there are two cases reported in Karad Taluka regarding leopard killing

as well as there is conflict between human & leopard killing.212

People in Karad make a living through agriculture and animal husbandry. At one end of the

spectrum, rich farmers focus on lucrative sugarcane and imported Jersey cattle while at the

other; poor survive on marginal rain-fed agriculture and graze goats, cattle on the scrubby hill

slopes. Locals know there are leopards around, some have seen them, others have heard of

them and some have lost calves, dogs or goats213

.

From the human perspective, our interactions with wildlife are often positive – we gain

material benefit from harvesting species for food or other animal products. In other situations,

however, human interactions with wildlife are negative. Wild animals may eat our livestock

and damage our crops, they may compete with us as hunters for wild prey populations, and

they may even injure or kill us214

.

210

Supra 98 211

Id 212

Supra 205 213

Global Animal, Daily news Magazine, from pets to wildlife, ,11 Feb 2011

214

Simon Thirgood, Rosie Woodroffe and Alan Rabinowitz, The impact of human–wildlife conflict on human

lives and livelihoods Conflict or Coexistence?, Cambridge University Press (2005)p-13

78

5.2 Classification of Indian Leopard

Physical appearance: Their head is larger than their body. Males weigh around 91 kg and the

females weigh around 60 kg. It has long dark tail measuring 3 feet. Males are usually larger

than the females. The leopard's coat has a background color of pale, cream-yellow on its

underside that darkens slightly to an orange-brown on its back. They have short eyes and

broad paws. They have dark spots on their face, head, throat, chest, and legs. The rest of their

body is covered in "rosettes".

Presence in India: Indian Leopards are easily spotted in the Corbett National Park,

Kaziranga National Park and Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary.

Habitat: Indian Leopards prefer dry deciduous forests, desert ecosystems, tropical rainforests

and northern coniferous forests.

Diet: Indian Leopards are carnivorous. They feed on monkeys, rodents, reptiles, amphibians,

birds, fish, wild pigs, wild boars and many more.

Reproduction: Indian Leopards mate throughout the year. Females give birth to two cubs per

litter. Cubs are weaned at about 4 months of age. New born open up their eyes between eighth

to tenth day of the birth.

Conservation status: Critically endangered

Lifespan: Indian Leopards live up to 21 -23 years of age.

5.3 Impact of Leopard on Human being

Fight for space and food is only forcing leopards to move outside forest area, which has led to

more man-animal conflicts of late. This conflict causes Disturbing human life, killing of

livestock, etc.

Shrinking natural habitat coupled with increasing lion and leopard population has led to

dispersion of these two big cats outside forest areas. They generally take shelter in mango and

sugarcane fields for days.

79

The following chart shows the number of death and injured people due to Human –Animal

conflict in State of Maharashtra215

Year

Injury / Death Records of human beings due to Animal – Human

conflict

Total number of injured Total number of death

2008-09 726 46

2009-10 490 22

2010-11 919 58

2011-12 635 39

Human deaths and injuries, although less common than crop damage, are the most severe

manifestations of human-wildlife conflict.

215

Government of Maharashtra Forest Department available at www.mahaforest.nic.in (Accessed on 12th

March 2012) 216

Government of Maharashtra Forest Department available at www.mahaforest.nic.in (Accessed on 12th

March 2012)

Year

Injury / Death Records of animals due to Animal/ livestock –

Human conflict216

Total number of death animal Total number of Injured

animal

2008-09 5200 -

2009-10 1916 -

2010-11 5832 21

2011-12 4173 85

80

Ever since humans domesticated the first animals several thousand years ago, there have been

conflicts with large leopard attacking livestock. Every year, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry or

farmed fish are killed by leopard.

Crop-raiding by wildlife is neither a new phenomenon nor a rare one. Farmers throughout the

world are faced with trying to reduce or eradicate the impact of crop damage by wildlife to

their standing crops217

.

The problem may be chronic or sporadic, predictable or sometimes unpredictable at least at

the level of the individual; whatever the pattern, crop damage threatens the livelihood security

of farmers living near wildlife.

5.4 Human impacts on Leopard

This is a big jump from the figures between 2000 and 2010, during which about four leopard

deaths were reported every week. The finding comes two days after Hindustan Times reported

that 69 tigers and 39 rhinos have died in the first nine months of the 2012 year.218

217

Supra 216 (p-75) 218

India Loses leopard a day, Hindustan Times, Oct 08, 2012, New Delhi available at

http://www.hindustantimes.com (Accessed on 22nd

Jan 2013)

81

Data with the wild life protection society of India (WPSI) shows that leopard deaths in 2012

have been highest since the data was first made available in 1994. More than half deaths were

because of poaching, the NGO claims. Though leopards are protected under the Wildlife

Protection Act, their killing continues unabated.219

About 90% leopards are poached for their skin, which is eventually traded to Myanmar,

Laos, China Vietnam and Cambodia. 220

The threat of poaching has been haunting the wildlife of India since ages. Even after the

establishment of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, the threat of poaching has not been

totally eliminated.

The following chart shows the number of deaths of leopards in state of Maharashtra due to

different reasons221

-

Reasons of

death

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

(till 2nd

June

2012

Hunting 8 8 9 16 8 10

Accident 11 17 12 13 15 10

Total 19 25 21 29 23 20

Following things needs to be kept in mind to avoid the conflict with leopard:-lie Campaigns

i. Leopards often take up residence in croplands / sugarcane land.

ii. They are not usually inclined to attack people. They may attack in self-defence. Hence

avoid provoking leopards.

iii. Mere sighting of a leopard in the vicinity of human habitations does not necessarily mean

that the animal has strayed from a forest and needs to be captured. In such a case inform the

nearest forest department or police station and try to drive it outside the human habitation

without causing hurt to leopard.

iv. Farmers should be made aware that livestock sheds should be strong, robust and leopard

proof.

219

Id 220

Supra 218 221

Government of Maharashtra Forest Department

82

5.5 Human animal conflict in Karad- The case study

Leopards are a highly adaptable species that live in and around many human dominated,

agricultural landscapes. It is a daunting challenge to ensure the peaceful coexistence of

leopards among high densities of humans of the order of 200 or more to a sq.km.

The Forest department is the first to face the heat of the public reactions and requires the

goodwill and confidence of the rural community much more than any other government

department.

A leopard strayed into the residential area of Karad city which is about 175 Km from Pune,

On 10th

Jan 2011 afternoon & he attacked & injured six people, three of them were seriously

injured. The incident happened in the Shaniwar Peth area which is close to Chief Minister

Prithviraj Chavan‘s home in Patan colony.

The leopard was shot dead by Assistant Police Inspector (API) Vikas Dhas with his service

revolver. According to the residents, the leopard must have strayed into the city on Saturday

night & hid in an unoccupied house in the Shaniwar Peth area.

The FIR has been filed against the API asking that why leopard was compelled to come out

from his natural habitat & who authorized officer to kill big cat like this?

To answer this question researcher wants to refer Wild Life Protection Act, 1972-

Hunting of wild animals to be permitted in certain cases222

-

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force and

subject to the provisions of Chapter IV,-

(a) the Chief Wild Life Warden may, if he is satisfied that any wild animal specified in

Schedule I has become dangerous to human life or is so disabled or diseased as to be beyond

recovery, by Order in writing and stating the reasons therefof, permit any person to hunt such

animal or cause such animal to be hunted;

(b) the Chief Wild Life Warden or the authorized officer may, if he is satisfied that any

wild animal specified in Schedule II, Schedule III, or Schedule IV, has become dangerous to

human life or to property (including standing crops on any land) or is so disabled or diseased

as to be beyond recovery, by order in writing and stating the reasons therefof, permit any

person to hunt such animal or cause such animal to be hunted.

222

Chapter III, Sec 11 of Wild Life Protection Act, 1972

83

(2) The killing or wounding in good faith of any wild animal in defence of oneself or of any

other person shall not be an offence:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall exonerate any person who, when such defence

becomes necessary, was committing any act in contravention of any provision of this Act or

any rule or order made there under.

(3) Any wild animal killed or wounded in defence of any person shall be Government

property.

From above section it is clear that the police officer who killed the leopard comes under sub

clause 2 of Sec 11 i.e. killing or wounding in good faith of any wild animal in defence of

oneself or of any other person shall not be an offence. This happened because the Forest

office/ forest officer was not nearby and the police officers were not trained in handling such

situation hunting is the only source available in front of people to save their own life & the

life of public.

Sugarcane is the single most important factor for the increase in conflict over the years in

Karad. Rapid destruction of forested habitat made way for sugarcane fields, leaving the

leopards with little option but to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape. With very little

forested habitats left to forage, hide and live in, they started living in the sugar cane fields.

As their wild prey slowly became scarcer they adapted to living on livestock (cattle, goats etc)

and local village dogs. Obviously as they started living in close proximity to farmers, they

became more visible to the rural population and this caused the public to think of them as a

threat to their livestock and their own safety.223

Assessment of people‘s attitudes towards wildlife:

Researcher conducted interview of following villages from Karad Taluka, Dist- Satara based

on the large number of conflict of leopard & human being-

1) Village Tambave,

2) Gharevadi,

3) Agashiv Nagar,

4) Mhasoli and

5) Shanivar Peth (Karad).

223

Leopards, http://www.wildlifesos.org (Accessed on 4th

Feb 2013)

84

Table 1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Description of land

Genral Information

Sugercane

Hybrid

Nuts

Table 2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Distance from Village / Jouse

to Farm

Genral Information

Within 1 to 2 Km

Within 3 to 5 Km

Within 5 to 10 Km

85

Description of Table 1 and 2

Graph Description

of land

Percentage

%

Distance from village/

house to farm

Percentage%

1 Sugarcane 75% Within 1 to 2 Km 50%

2 Hybrid 15% Within 3 to 5 Km 25%

3 Nuts 10% Within 5 to 10 Km 25%

The above information itself reveals that developed crop land is the main cause of conflict.

Karad Taluka is a place where large number of sugarcane production is found. As researcher

has discussed earlier sugarcane land is most suitable for leopard, where they get privacy for

breeding purposes as well as easily get livestock from the nearby village for livelihood.

i. Leopard often take up residence in croplands and tea-gardens.

ii. They are not usually inclined to attack people; on the contrary, they avoid people.

iii. Wild carnivores may attack in self-defence, and, therefore, it is advisable to avoid

provoking them.

iv. Mere sighting of a leopard in the vicinity of human habitations does not necessarily mean

that the animal has strayed from a forest and needs to be captured.

v. Arbitrary removal of leopards could lead to increased conflict. The space vacated by a

captured animal will soon be occupied by another leopard.

86

Table 3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Leopard causing damage

Views regarding conflict between Leopard & Human being

Livestock

Human

Crops/ Land

Table 4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

Who is responsible for the conflict ?

Human

Forest Department

Existing Laws

87

Description of Table 3 & 4

Graph Leopard

causing

damage

Percentage

%

Who is responsible for

the Human- leopard

conflict?

Percentage

%

1 Livestock 65%

Human 65%

2 Human 20%

Forest Department 25%

3 Crops/ land 15% Existing Laws relating

to Wild life

10%

From the above information it is clear that majority of individuals in the villages believe that

the human being means they themselves are responsible for the conflict. The other people

believe that the existing laws relating to protection of wildlife & the poor management of

forest department are responsible for the conflict.

Table 5

Reasons for Human - Leopard conflict

Construction & conversion of land for agriculture purpose -65 %

Improper Management of Natural Habitat - 20%

Animal Trade - 15%

88

Table 6

Measures in case an animal enters into public premises

Shoot at sight - 55%

Go to Safety Place - 25%

Inform forest Department / police Officer - 20%

Description of Table 5 & 6

Graph Reasons for

human

leopard

conflict

Percentage

%

Measures in case

an animal enters

into public

premises

Percentag

e %

1 Construction

&

Conversion

of land for

agriculture

purpose

65%

Shoot at sight 55%

2 Improper

management

of natural

habitat

20%

Go to safety place 25%

3 Animal Trade 15% Inform to forest

Department/

Police officer

20%

From the above information it is clear that large number of people believe that the

construction in forest area as well improper conversion of forest land into agricultural land is

the main reason for the conflict. So also, that improper management of natural habitat &

animal trade are other reasons for the conflict. When the question raised to the villagers

regarding what would you do if the leopard enters into the public premises? When such

question was asked majority of people besides telling about the protection of animal they

89

informed that they would prefer to shoot at sight whereas other group of people mentioned

that they would inform the forest Department or police officer & will go to safety place.

Therefore to avoid the unnecessary death of leopard under such situation it is necessary to

follow the following safety measures:-

A. Assistance of the Police has to be sought to tackle the public.

The Fire Department and volunteers can also aid the Forest Department in emergency

situation – It is important to control curious onlookers from crowding around the leopard to

prevent agitating the animal further. Besides, the Emergency Response Team requires

sufficient space to operate effectively. Most importantly if the leopard makes an attempt to

escape the chances of people getting hurt are reduced.224

1. A barrier (bamboo, fluorescent tape, brightly coloured tape) is necessary to cordon the area.

B. Regular training of an Emergency Team has to be carried out

This is best done in advance and at regular intervals to reinforce the capacities of the staff and

also to train new staff who might have joined since the last training and also enable the

incorporation of fresh knowledge and experience.

C. Safety of the animal has to be kept in mind

(a) A veterinary doctor‘s services have to be availed of

(b) Prompt action will increase the success of the operation.

D. The Forest Department has to be prepared

Appropriate remote drug delivery equipments (Blowpipe, gas pistol, and rifle) and drugs

should be available. Equipment should be in working condition, accessories and drugs should

be in stock and not past their expiry date.225

E. Immediately after trapping

It is important that rescued leopards are released as soon as possible in a nearby area not

frequented by people and where the animal can be left undisturbed.

Cover the cage (greenhouse material/gunny sack material is recommended) and cordon off at

least a 20 m radius around the cage.

224

Vidya Athrey & Aniruddha Belsare, Human-Leopard Conflict Management Guidelines , (2007) Kaati Trust ,

Pune India. 225

Ibid

90

No person should be allowed to break the cordon.

Media should not be allowed within the cordoned area, old file pictures and video recordings

can be provided for their use

If the crowd is unmanageable, then the covered trap cage should be immediately moved to a

nearby Forest Department Nursery or Rescue Center or any place where the public can be

kept out.

(Reason – leopards are HIGHLY stressed in the close proximity of people and in their

attempt to flee, they will repeatedly bang against the cage leading to serious head injuries and

death)226

.

Check for microchip in the animal and if not found then mark the animal with a microchip (or

radio collar if possible).

F. Need of Conservation Education

Maharashtra needs a powerful and committed conservation education programme, which will

benefit both the people and the wildlife. Some of the educational materials can be developed

like films, posters, children‘s books, calendars etc. It also implements outreach programmes

like poster making and essay-writing for schoolchildren. It is important that conservation

education be linked to the livelihoods of the local people so that support from local people is

ensured. The immediate need is to provide compensation when local people suffer livestock

loss227

.

The programme need not focus on the post-conflict phase where the damage is already done,

but on a planned and long-term comprehensive communication strategy. The role of the

administration, media, general public and decision-makers should be included and specifically

designed to deal with the crisis period.

G. The role of administration

Poor communication between the administration and the local people is often responsible for

the negative attitude of people towards wildlife. Wildlife and forests are often projected as

government property and people have been alienated from the forests. The role of the

administration during the conflict phase should be to inform people and provide possible

solutions to avoid further conflict. It should also play a vital role in stemming panic and thus

226

Supra 224 227

http://www.ceeindia.org/esf/download/paper14.pdf (Accessed on 17th Aug 2012)

91

avoiding the killing of wildlife. Steps to prevent conflict can be communicated over the radio,

which is popular in rural areas. Live announcements through mobile vans or auto-rickshaws

can be made and information pamphlets can be distributed door to door. These measures will

not only reduce the panic but also help in confidence building. Special awareness teams

should be sent to areas that are inaccessible by road.228

People are unaware about measures to avoid conflict, and it becomes necessary to spread the

word about safety measures. Arrangements for temporary camps for doctors, veterinarians

and a mobile emergency medical van should be made. An emergency hotline facility should

be provided to villages connected by road and technology.

H. The role of the media

The media is either passive or exaggerates the issue. Wildlife species are often reported

incorrectly and the news is sensationalized causing panic. Sensible reporting is the need of the

hour during any conflict. Correct and truthful coverage of the conflict and the projection of

the importance of wildlife is vital. The vilification of wildlife does not help the cause of

conservation.

I. The role of schools

Awareness programmes should target the youth because their links with nature are not as

strong as those of the older generation. Indeed, some of them may not even have seen

wildlife. Thus, there is a need to create awareness about their natural heritage and involve

them in the programmes. School and college wildlife awareness programmes need to provide

relevant contextual information.

Similarly, the role of teachers in the programme is important as they are the catalysts in

achieving the results of the conservation education programmes. Capacity building and

training of teachers should be started to further strengthen the awareness programmes229

J. Local NGOs

Local NGOs can play an important role in helping the administration and helping in

confidence building among people during the crisis period. NGOs can orient and train

volunteers who can visit the conflict villages to spread awareness about measures to avoid

possible conflicts, and can help in implementing school awareness programmes.

228

Supra 227 229

Vidya Athrey & Aniruddha Belsare, Human-Leopard Conflict Management Guidelines, (2007) Kaati Trust ,

Pune India.

92

Where leopards come into conflict with farmers by killing livestock or human being, there are

three research outcomes: (i) the farmer wants the leopard killed; (ii) the farmer wants the

leopard removed from his property, but not killed and (iii) the farmer does not mind having

the leopard on his property.

Wildlife Conservation Strategy 2002 mention following points to reduce the animal and

human conflict as:-

1. Wildlife and forests should be declared priority sector at the national level for which

funds should be earmarked.

2. Law enforcement agencies must ensure that those engaged in poaching, illicit trade in

wildlife and wildlife products, destruction of their habitat, and such other illegal activities are

given quick and deterrent punishment.

3. We should fully tap the potential in wildlife tourism and at the same time take care that it

does not have adverse impact in wildlife and protected areas. The revenue earned from

increased tourism should be used entirely to augment available resources for conservation230

.

4. Protecting interests of the poor and tribals living around protected areas should be handled

with sensitivity and with maximum participation of the affected people. They should have

access to the minor forest produce, in the forest outside for national parks and sanctuaries

.Employment and means generation for these people is crucial for maintaining symbiosis

between the forests, wildlife and the people. People should be encouraged to take up

afforestation and conservation in new areas.

5. While strengthening protective measures against traditional threats to wildlife, we should

also respond to newer threats such as toxic chemicals and pesticides.

6. There should be greater governmental as well as societal recognition and support for the

many non-governmental organizations engaged in wildlife conservation. Mainstream media

should highlight their activities as also successes of governmental initiatives that have

worked.

7. Creatively produced Television Programmes on wildlife and ecology are widely

appreciated by young and old as seen from the popularity of dedicated T.V. channels like,

Discovery, National Geographic and Animal Planet. It is proposed that Prasar Bharati and our

230

Wildlife Conservation Strategy 2002

93

private channels along with agencies like WWF for Nature should collaborate and increase

original Indian content in different languages on our television.

8. No diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes from critical and ecologically fragile

wildlife habitat shall be allowed.

9. Lands falling within 10 km. of the boundaries of National Parks and Sanctuaries should

be notified as eco-fragile zones under section 3(v) of the Environment ( Protection ) Act and

Rule 5 Sub-rule 5(viii) & (x) of the Environment ( Protection ) Rules.

10. Removal of encroachments and illegal activities from within forest lands and Protected

Areas.

11. No commercial mono-culture to replace natural forests.

12. The settlement of rights in National Parks and Sanctuaries should not be used to exclude

or reduce the areas that are crucial and integral part of the wildlife habitat.

13. More than 2000 vacant posts in the frontline staff of Protected Areas shall be filled

immediately and provided basic infrastructure for efficient discharge of duties. Ban on

recruitment of staff against vacant post should be lifted on lines with the Police Department.

Innovative initiative such as redeployment of surplus employees in other departments, hiring

local people on voluntary or honorarium basis, raising donations from business houses and

other members of the public in return for a greater role for them in implementing programmes

need to be explored.231

14. Every protected area should be managed by forest officers trained in wildlife

management.

15. Mitigation measures for human-animal conflict and mechanism for crop insurance as also

expeditious disbursements of ex-gratia payments should be instituted by States.

16. Forest Commission should be set-up to look into restructuring, reform and strengthening

the entire forest set up and affiliated institutions in the country.

17. A working group shall be constituted to monitor implementation of Wildlife Action Plan.

18. Most importantly let us all resolve that we should end the relatively neglected wildlife

conservation in recent years. To begin with Board should meet more often. Wildlife

conservation is too important a task to be treated lightly or ritualistically.

231

Supra 115

94

Along with educational programmes, management-oriented programmes need to be

implemented to resolve human-animal conflict. Conservation education in isolation cannot be

very effective in such cases. Some of the other measures that the study recommends are

establishing effective wildlife conservation wings within the forest department, fenced

enclosures to keep achieving, keeping watchers or guard dogs and thud conservation of

wildlife species outside protected areas. Other solutions to reduce conflict in the long run

include developing alternative sources of revenue based on extraction of forest products

through joint forest management and assuring forest benefits to local communities, the

possibilities of eco-tourism and employment for local people.232

232

http://www.ceeindia.org/esf/download/paper14.pdf (Accessed on 17th Aug 2012)