Analysis of Human-Wildlife Conflict in Buffer Zone Area: A Case Study of Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal

Maheshwari Bhatta,Rajeev Joshi

doi:10.33002/nr2581.6853.03033

Abstract

This article is based on a study carried out in buffer zone of Shuklaphanta National Park (SNP), which lies in Kanchanpur district of Nepal. It is aimed to assess nature and extent of crop damages, livestock depredation and human casualties, and to identify local people's attitude towards wildlife conservation and management. Primary data was collected through preliminary field visit, questionnaire survey of households, key informant interviews, focus group discussion and direct field observation. Paddy was major crop damaged by wild animals, followed by wheat and maize. Wild boar followed by elephant and deer were found as the most problematic animals causing crop damage, while common leopard was found as the major culprit for livestock depredation. The proximity to the national park was found determining factor to the extent of damage caused by the wild animals. People’s attitude towards wildlife conservation was found to be positive; however, more than 85% of respondents showed dissatisfaction towards park authorities’ effort for conflict management. Active participation of local people in conservation and awareness program can play a vital role to reduce and mitigate the human wildlife conflict at community level.

Highlights

Today, the world is facing massive loss of biodiversity and the extinction of number of species
The study was carried out in buffer zone of Shuklaphanta National Park (SNP) which lies in Bhimdatta Municipality (Ward no. 15 and 19) of Kanchanpur district in the Far Western Province of Nepal (Figure 1).The buffer zone with an area of 243.5 km2 was notified in May 2004
This study found that local people of study area were adopting the different techniques to protect croplands from wild animals

Summary

Introduction

The world is facing massive loss of biodiversity and the extinction of number of species. To overcome the challenges of conserving existing species, protected areas (PAs) have been critical to conserve biodiversity (Lopoukhine, 2008). Property damage, livestock depredation and human casualties are the most common causes of conflicts with wildlife (Ogra and Badola, 2008). Establishment of protected areas (PAs) network has been main strategy for long-term protection of biodiversity in Nepal, since the beginning of 1970s (HMG/N, 2002). The expansion of PAs has, come into direct conflict with traditional linkages and immediate needs of local livelihoods that depend upon forest resources for their survival (Silwal et al, 2013). Wild animals moving out from the parks damage agricultural crops, livestock and properties and frequently cause human injury or death. Wildlife damages as a direct result of wildlife are often quoted resentment of local people and retaliatory killings of even endangered species (Silwal, 2003; Banikoi et al, 2017)

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