MSc

Human-wildlife conflicts is now a paradox for foresters and policy makers
across the globe. In Kerala, interaction between humans and wildlife is affecting many
lives and livelihoods. The damage caused by these interactions are drastic, it can vary
from crop loss in a small area to human deaths. For the people living near the protected
areas crop losses and livestock losses due to raiding by wildlife are a serious social
and ecological concern as this can create an anti-wildlife lobby in the long run. So,
understanding the social dimensions of such conflicts is also important to frame
effective mitigation strategies. The study titled “Cause-consequence analysis of
human-wildlife conflict in Wayanad district, Kerala” conducted during 2015-2017
tried to discern the nature, frequency, distribution and intensity of human-wildlife
conflicts in Wayanad district and to understand the causative factors involved in the
conflicts. The study was also intended to suggest suitable mitigatory measures to
enhance human-wildlife coexistence in Wayanad district. A total of 120 households
were interviewed from four locations in Wayanad namely Meppadi, Odapallam
(SulthanBathery), Bhoothanam (Chedleth) and Thirunelli. Detailed interviews using
pre-tested questionnaire was conducted and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools
like timeline, problem tree and vulnerability mapping was employed at each location
for collecting additional information. Crop raiding was found to be the major type of
conflict occurring in the district. Over the past years there occurred a shift in the
farming practices with banana becoming a popular crop at the expense of the
traditional crops. Most of the respondents lived in the close proximity and practiced
agriculture and also occasionally integrated livestock in their farms. More palatable
crops in the forest fringes along with domestic animals and plentiful water attracted
the wildlife to the farmlands. Plantations of teak, eucalyptus etc, together with the
invasive alien weed species has smothered the natural vegetation thereby reduced the
natural food resources triggering animal migration. Reduced rainfall, droughts and
forest fires that the district now increasingly experience has further reduced the
availability of resources for the wildlife. These were found to be the major causes
leading to conflicts. People were well aware of the forest laws and the attitude of the
farmers to wildlife was positive. They believed in coexistence and conservation to be
unavoidable for human existence. Enrichment of the habitat and fencing around the
farmlands were favoured as the best mitigation measure. People did support the
compensation schemes and insurances, provided they were adequate and immediate.
The study outlines the possible role of various stakeholders such as farmers, Non-
Governmental Organisations, Research institutions, Local self-governmental
institutions and governments in improving the conflict mitigation process.