Human-animal Conflict – UPSC Environment Notes

• Human-animal conflict denotes adverse encounters between humans and wild animals, resulting in detrimental outcomes for both human communities and their resources, as well as wildlife and their habitats. 
• This conflict arises from the competition between humans and wildlife for natural resources, impacting human food security and the overall well-being of both humans and animals. 
• The prevalence of these conflicts has risen in numerous regions in recent decades, attributed to factors such as human population expansion and alterations in land use.

CAUSES OF HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT

• The occurrence of Human-Wildlife Conflict stems from human encroachment into the natural habitats of wildlife. 
• For instance, conflicts arise when herbivores consume crops and carnivores target livestock, compelling farmers who depend on both to adopt drastic measures to mitigate wildlife-related losses.
• Interactions between humans and wild animals are becoming more frequent as the human population expands and biodiversity increases. 
• Habitat disturbance, characterized by the destruction of the natural homes of wild animals, occurs when humans engage in activities like digging, cutting, sealing with stones, and smoking, leading to the killing or pursuit of wild animals in their native environments.
• Various factors contribute to Human-Wildlife Conflict, including large-scale habitat destruction resulting from deforestation, overgrazing by livestock, and the expansion of human settlements and agriculture. Additional causes encompass:
• Human population growth
  • Land use change
  • Loss, degradation, and fragmentation of species habitats
  • Rising livestock populations and the competitive exclusion of wild herbivores
  • Growing interest in ecotourism and increased access to nature reserves
  • Abundance and distribution of wild prey
  • Wildlife population growth due to conservation programs
  • Climate-related factors
  • Stochastic events (e.g., fire)

IMPACTS OF HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICTS

• Human-Wildlife Conflict exerts significant direct impacts on both wildlife and nearby communities. 
• The consequences extend beyond species decline and extinction, affecting communities with financial losses, as well as posing threats to health, safety, livelihoods, food security, and property.
• Living with wildlife imposes unevenly distributed costs, with a disproportionate burden on communities facing systemic barriers, having incomes significantly below the poverty line, and limited access to economic opportunities. 
• While the global community benefits from healthy wildlife populations and ecosystems essential for survival, food provision, and livelihoods, the costs are disproportionately borne by marginalized communities.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict is not only a conservation concern but also a development and humanitarian issue. 
• It impacts the income of farmers, herders, and artisanal fishers, particularly those with incomes below the poverty line.
• Beyond direct losses to communities, Human-Wildlife Conflict has indirect global impacts by pressuring the global supply chain and agricultural production, leading to food insecurity and reduced productivity among producers. Additional impacts include:
  • Crop damage
  • Predation on livestock
  • Human injuries
  • Loss of human lives
  • Property damage
  • Injuries to wildlife
  • Animal deaths
  • Habitat destruction

MITIGATIVE STRATEGIES

• Translocation of Problematic Animals:
  • Historically employed, relocating perceived “problem” animals to new locations was a mitigation strategy. However, recent research suggests negative effects on species, rendering this approach largely ineffective.
• Construction of Fences or Barriers:
  • Erecting barriers around cattle bomas (livestock enclosures), establishing distinct wildlife corridors, and installing beehive fences around farms to deter elephants have proven successful and cost-effective in mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
• Compensation:
  • Some governments have implemented compensation systems to provide financial reparation for losses incurred due to human-wildlife conflict. These systems aim to reduce the necessity for retaliatory animal killings and financially incentivize coexistence between humans and wildlife.
• Guard Dogs Deterring Predators:
  • The use of guard dogs for protecting livestock from predation has been globally effective in mitigating human-carnivore conflict. Recent reviews indicate that 15.4% of study cases addressing human-carnivore conflict utilized livestock-guarding dogs as a management technique, resulting in animal losses on average 60 times lower than the norm.

RECENT DATA

• Between the fiscal years 2018-19 and 2020-21, a total of 222 elephants across the country fell victim to electrocution.
• During the period from 2019 to 2021, 29 tigers succumbed to poaching, and investigations are ongoing for 197 tiger deaths.
• Elephants were responsible for the loss of 1,579 human lives over three years, with 585 fatalities in 2019-20, 461 in 2020-21, and 533 in 2021-22.
• Odisha reported the highest number of human casualties at 332, followed by Jharkhand with 291, and West Bengal with 240.
• Tigers, in contrast, claimed the lives of 125 humans within reserves from 2019 to 2021. Maharashtra recorded the highest number of deaths at 61, constituting nearly half of all reported incidents.

FAQs on Human-Animal Conflict

Q1: What is Human-Animal Conflict?

A1: Human-Animal Conflict refers to adverse encounters between humans and wild animals, resulting in detrimental outcomes for both human communities and wildlife. This conflict arises from the competition for natural resources, impacting human food security and overall well-being.

Q2: What Causes Human-Animal Conflict?

A2: Human-Animal Conflict arises from human encroachment into wildlife habitats, leading to interactions between humans and wild animals. Habitat disturbance, large-scale habitat destruction, land use change, and other factors contribute, such as human population growth and increased biodiversity.

Q3: What are the Impacts of Human-Animal Conflicts?

A3: Human-Animal Conflict has direct impacts on wildlife and nearby communities. It results in financial losses, threats to health, safety, livelihoods, food security, and property. The costs are disproportionately borne by marginalized communities, affecting global supply chains and agricultural production.

Q4: How does Human-Animal Conflict affect communities globally?

A4: Human-Animal Conflict is not only a conservation concern but also a development and humanitarian issue. It impacts the income of farmers, herders, and fishers, particularly those with incomes below the poverty line. The global impacts include pressure on the supply chain, agricultural production, food insecurity, and reduced productivity.

Q5: What Mitigative Strategies are employed for Human-Animal Conflict?

A5: Mitigative strategies include translocation of problematic animals (historically used but now deemed largely ineffective), construction of fences or barriers around key areas, compensation systems to reduce retaliatory killings, and the use of guard dogs to deter predators.

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