The Influence of People’s Practices and Beliefs on Conservation: A Case Study on Human-Carnivore Relationships from the Multiple Use Buffer Zone of the Panna Tiger Reserve, India

Abstract

The case presented in this paper is a unique situation of livestock pastoralists, living in the buffer zone of Panna Tiger Reserve in India, displaying unusually high tolerance towards large carnivores in spite of frequent predation incidents. The researchers dissect the case, examine local people’s practices anddraw attention to factors influencing peoples practices.Through interviews and personal observations the researchers collected detailed information on peoples practices and the factors influencing such practices. They collected information on large carnivores near 29 villages in the buffer zone and looked at factors influencing their presence in these areas. Their findings reveal the play and working of several social factors that are instrumental in influencing peoples tolerance and people’s behaviours towards forests and wildlife and recommend that carnivore conservation projects focusing outside protected areas should critically assess the influence of such aspects on their conservation goals. And wherever applicable, find ways to innovatively model them into their conservation plans.