Efficiency of mitigation measures against crop raiding wild animals in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Abstract

A field study was conducted to map and document the human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation measures being followed in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and to examine the effectiveness of the various intervention measures used in mitigating the human-wildlife conflict at WWS. The study was conducted from September 2018 to May 2019 in all the four ranges of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary viz., Muthanga, Sulthan Bathery, Kurichiyat and Tholpetty. The mitigation measures such as Solar Power Electric Fence, Elephant-proof Trench and Elephant-proof Wall were mapped using the software QGIS ver. 2.18. Sanctuary level and range-wise maps were prepared. Socio-economic survey of the local communities residing near the forest fnnges was also conducted for understanding the extent of human-wildlife conflict, conflict mitigation measures and their effectiveness, attitude and perception of the people towards the HWC mitigation measures etc. The Land Use Land Cover Change (LULCC) analysis was also carried out by using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technology, both inside the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and in a 5 km buffer area outside the sanctuary during 2005-2006 and 2014-2015. The solar power electric fence was established along with the elephant-proof trench. A total of 190.265 km of fence-trench combination that was taken at Wayanad was mapped. The combination of solar power electric fence and elephant-proof trench surveyed was more in Muthanga range (56.535 km), followed by Kurichiyat range (46.626 km), Sulthan Bathery range (46.052 km) and Tholpetty range (41.052 km). The elephant-proof wall erected at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary were less than 200 m and the total length of the elephant-proof wall that could be mapped was only 654.16 m. According to the socio-economic survey that is conducted at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, 99.17 percent of the respondents were the victim of crop damage, 45.83 percent of the respondents suffered from livestock loss and 40.83 percent of the respondents experienced threat to human life. Human-wildlife conflict was more due to Asian Elephants (91.67%), followed by Spotted Deer (89.17%) and Wild Boar (87.50%). 75 percent of the respondents has experienced crop loss and property damage due to Bonnet Macaque. Threat to livestock loss due to tiger/leopard attack was faced by 32.50 percent of the respondents. 26.67 percent of the respondents opined on that the damage caused by the Malabar Giant Squirrel on coconuts. In Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, mostly, a combination of elephant proof trench and solar power electric fence were established. The trenches and the electric fences are poorly maintained and thus they are less effective. The barriers also suffer a high rate of failure as people deliberately break them for accessing the forests for various reasons. Elephant-proof walls cause major ecological challenges, as it completely fragments the habitat and even affect the ecology and behaviour of several non-target species of wild animals too. Moreover, it has also been found to be highly ineffective as in almost all the sites the Elephant-proof walls were broken by the elephants. Biological barriers were also found to be ineffective to mitigate the human-wildlife conflict. Despite of a huge implementation of the mitigation measures, the overall conflict incidents has increased substantially. Based on the Land Use Land Cover change analysis, it was foimd that there is an increase in the built-up area inside the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, especially in Kidanganad area of Kurichiyat range over the 10 years. Increment in the built-up area is found to be more in the buffer area (213.26 ha). There is a significant increase in built-up area and cropping area within and on the fringes of the sanctuary. This change in land use has been done primarily by the conversion of the natural vayals in and around sanctuary. This change in the land use pattern and the increase in the agricultural land area could be one of the reasons for the increased human-wildlife conflict incidents in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.