Human-Leopard Interactions Around Gir National Park and Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

Abstract

We studied human-leopard interactions around Gir National Park and Sanctuary. We collected secondary data from the Gujarat State Forest Department (2000-2007) and further augmented primary and secondary data during our field investigation from 2008-2012. We analyzed data to understand human-leopard interactions viz-a-viz annual and seasonal pattern, magnitude and areas with high levels of interactions. Between 2000 to 2012, 1187 leopards were captured from outside the Gir National Park and Sanctuary. 2459 cases of livestock predation by leopard were recorded from outside Gir. We analyzed data using ARIMA time series. There was significant correlation between lags of captured leopards for overall trend (rk =0.380±0.09, ok=19.58, p < 0.05) following seasonality (t (q1) = -0.203± 0.09, p <0.05); t (Qs1) = 0.595 ± 0.08, p <0.05). The highest cases of interactions were recorded in winter season (38.7%). Incidences of leopards falling in agricultural wells were highest in monsoon season (38.4%). Cases of leopards entering human houses were highest in summer season (52.7%). Livestock predation by leopard outside Gir was also highest in winter season (42%). The mean livestock predation rate was 224±49 livestock/annum with majority of killing of small sized livestock (89%). Leopards captured from outside Gir showed significant preponderance of adult individuals. Cases of capturing of leopard and livestock predation were recorded as far as 53 km from the boundary of Gir. Majority of sites with high level of human-leopard interactions were, however, located within a distance of 0-12 km. The study has provided detailed insight into human-leopard interaction outside Gir and the same may be used to frame preventive strategies for reduction in such interactions around Gir National Park and Sanctuary.