&lt;b&gt;Assessments on the impact of human-tiger conflict and community-based conservation in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India&lt;/b&gt;

Sandeep Chouksey,Somesh Singh

doi:10.11609/jott.3015.10.7.11844-11849

Abstract

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) is one of the famous tiger reserves in India, situated in Uamria District of Madhya Pradesh. Data on human-tiger conflict were collected from the forest record during the period from 2001 to 2011 and a questionnaire survey was conducted to know the level of human-tiger conflict. A total of 27 human casualties were recorded, of which 40.75% were lethal (death) and 59.25% were injuries. A total of 1,603 livestock killing were recorded by tiger, of which consisting of 76.54% (1227) cattle (cow/ox), 22.52% (361) buffaloes and 0.93% (15) goats. Illegal entry into the core and buffer area for collection of minor forest produce, daily needs, and livestock grazing were observed to be the major reasons behind the existing conflict. Poor livestock shelter was also found responsible for mauling of cattle by tigers. The forest department had provided adequate compensation for the losses, but most of the respondents were unsatisfied due to assorted reasons. Poaching and retaliation killing of tiger is also a serious issue in and around BTR. A total of four tiger poaching and one revenge killing case was recorded. Conflicts create a negative impact on people, even then majority of the respondents (83.89%) felt the necessity for tiger conservation. Wildlife habitat improvement, restocking of prey base by translocation of herbivores, fencing of protected areas, controlled grazing and rangeland management, adequate compensation, eco-development, promoting the use of toilets in surrounding villages for safety, proper housing of livestock, and community-based conservation are some options for control and management of human-tiger conflict.

Highlights

The rising human and livestock population around tiger reserves often leads to increasing interfaces of humans and tigers in many places across their range often results in human-tiger conflict situations
Rising human population is creating biotic pressure in and around the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve that led to human mauling and casualties
Cattle rearing is a common occupation of the people and they have large herds of unproductive and poor quality cattle which graze in and around the tiger reserve

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The rising human and livestock population around tiger reserves often leads to increasing interfaces of humans and tigers in many places across their range often results in human-tiger conflict situations. Tigers have two ecological requirements that place them in direct conflict with humans They need large areas of forest habitat (Sunquist 1981; Smith et al 1987), and second, they require abundant large prey (Smith et al 1987). Tigers mostly survive in small numbers in protected areas which are isolated due to habitat fragmentation and disturbances. Fragmentation of forest, expansion of agriculture fields, human settlement, mining and dams destroy the habitat of wild tiger and expose tiger to straying out to people creating conflict with humans. Human-tiger conflict is frequently associated with attacks on humans and livestock depredation. If tigers do not have enough prey they will instead hunt domestic livestock, which many local communities depend on for livelihood. The present study was planned to estimate the level of existing human-tiger conflict, factors associated with conflict and impacts on the community based conservation

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Methods

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DISCUSSION