Living with wildlife: Conflict or co-existence

Abstract

Conflict between human and wildlife takes place because of sharing and competition for limited resources. The conflicts become a controversial, if it is concerned with the livelihood and economic value. Protected Areas (PAs) worldwide are facing a problem, because of Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC). The damages caused by wildlife have affected the day to day activities of people and there has been a query regarding the humanitarian value and wildlife welfare. The study was conducted in Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal, to find out the major losses caused by wildlife, especially, the mammals in the surrounding villages. The results showed that the main wildlife caused damages include crop depredation followed by livestock loss. Majority of the respondents i.e. 149 (89 males and 60 females) said that the main reasons for disliking wildlife is because they destroy crops and 10 males and 6 females stated that the reasons for disliking wildlife is because livestock depredation do occurs. As, the people living around the CNP mainly depend on agriculture and livestock farming for their survival, thus, wildlife activities have been a huge concern to them. The local people have been suffering from the huge economic losses by wildlife damages which have heightened the antagonistic behavior towards wildlife. And it has probably questioned on the conservation and management of wildlife in a long run. Though, there has been a global and national concern in making efforts not to overlook either of them but the query remains “How is it Possible?” so “Living with wildlife: Conflict or Coexistence” has remained a query without answer.