Man-Animal Conflict in UP - Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

What is the issue?

• An adult, male tiger was beaten to death by villagers living next to Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.
• The continuing man-animal conflict near the reserve area calls for understanding the reasons and for concerted actions.

What is the concern?

• Dudhwa and Pilibhit tiger reserves are the last remaining protected habitats for tigers and leopards in UP.
• The contest for space and retaliation between humans and animals has been a case for long.
• Pilibhit, in particular, is known for the higher rate of human fatalities due to animal attacks.
• Around 21 were killed in Pilibhit in 2017.
• One tiger was declared a man-eater and subsequently captured.
• It is mistakenly believed that bloodthirsty tigers in Pilibhit are actively seeking out humans and venturing far out of the forest.
• However, a closer look into the nature of attacks proves this wrong.

What do the attacks suggest?

• Over half of the tiger attacks took place inside the forest or in the fringe areas.
• This is followed by attacks in farmlands, particularly sugarcane fields.
• Sugarcane fields occupy about a third of the district’s sown area.
• A closer look reveals that around 80% of the victims are males.
• Victims generally include those who enter forest to collect firewood.
• Those who work in fields and defecate near the forest are victims too.
• Most attacks took place during the day, when the forest-dependent communities are most active.
• All these suggest that tigers are not actively seeking out human beings as prey.
• Most encounters are caused by humans accidentally disturbing tigers that are resting during the day.

What are the reasons?

• Human beings are not a part of the tigers’ food chain.
• The attacks clearly take place due to shortfalls in management.
• The forest and fields are not separated by a buffer zone.
• Herbivores, the natural prey of big cats, enter the crop fields in search of food.
• This is when tigers enter the farmland too.
• The situation is further complicated by sugar cane fields.
• The crop provides ample cover for big cats.
• It allows them to inhabit the space undisturbed for months.

What is the case with leopard attacks?

• Victims of tiger attacks are mostly adult males venturing into forests to a greater degree.

• However, leopards are more prone to attacking children below 10 years of age.
• Most of these attacks are concentrated in the adjacent villages.
• They take place inside or near homes, in the peripheral areas and fields.
• Notably, leopard attacks are relatively lesser in the fields.
• Reason - Tigers cohabit with leopards.
• Naturally, leopards compete with its larger and more powerful tigers.
• As they have to survive with limited prey that is available.
• Notably, leopards are known to avoid large prey, which could injure it.
• So vulnerable children become easy targets.
• Being opportunistic predators, leopards often prey on livestock and dogs.
• But most of these incidents remain undetected.

What should be done?

• Changes in human behaviour could help reduce the number of attacks.
• Not entering forests alone, not leaving children unattended, and building toilets at home, etc have to be ensured.
• A more long-term measure is the introduction of mechanical harvesters for sugar cane.
• This can greatly reduce attacks on humans during harvesting.
• Introduction of harvesters is likely to lead to people losing their jobs.
• But in such a scenario, there is a need to find a middle ground.
• Successful conservation efforts have led to a spike in big cats population.
• It has also led to an increase in the number of conflict cases.
• The state has to be prepared for any eventualities.
• The most important aspect is to involve the community.
• They have to be better equipped to live alongside these large carnivores.
• This could be the most important long-term initiative.

Source: Indian Express