Are conflict-causing tigers different? Another perspective for understanding human-tiger conflict in Chitwan National Park, Nepal (original) (raw)
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Oryx, 2017
Human-tiger conflict arises when tigers Panthera tigris attack people or their livestock, and poses a significant threat to both tigers and people. To gain a greater understanding of such conflict we examined spatio-temporal patterns, correlates, causes and contexts of conflict in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, and its buffer zone, during -. Data, mostly from compensation applications, were collected from the Park office. Fifty-four human casualties ( fatalities, injuries) and incidents of livestock depredation were recorded, clustered in defined areas, with .% of human casualties occurring in the buffer zone and .% within km of the Park boundary. A linear model indicated there was a significant increase in human casualties during -. Livestock were killed in proportion to their relative availability, with goats suffering the highest depredation (%). There was a positive correlation between livestock depredation and National Park frontage (the length of Village Development Committee/ municipality boundary abutting the National Park), but not human population, livestock population, forest area in the buffer zone, rainfall or temperature. There was no relationship between tiger attacks on people and any of the correlates examined. Wild prey density was not correlated with conflict. Of the tigers removed because of conflict, .% were male. The majority of attacks on people occurred during accidental meetings (.%), mostly while people were collecting fodder or fuelwood (.%), and almost half (.%) occurred in the buffer zone forests. We recommend the use of the conflict map developed here in the prioritization of preventive measures, and that strategies to reduce conflict should include zoning enforcement, improvement of livestock husbandry, participatory tiger monitoring, an insurance scheme, and community awareness.
Oryx, 2017
Human-tiger conflict arises when tigers Panthera tigris attack people or their livestock, and poses a significant threat to both tigers and people. To gain a greater understanding of such conflict we examined spatio-temporal patterns, correlates, causes and contexts of conflict in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, and its buffer zone, during -. Data, mostly from compensation applications, were collected from the Park office. Fifty-four human casualties ( fatalities, injuries) and incidents of livestock depredation were recorded, clustered in defined areas, with .% of human casualties occurring in the buffer zone and .% within km of the Park boundary. A linear model indicated there was a significant increase in human casualties during -. Livestock were killed in proportion to their relative availability, with goats suffering the highest depredation (%). There was a positive correlation between livestock depredation and National Park frontage (the length of Village Development Committee/ municipality boundary abutting the National Park), but not human population, livestock population, forest area in the buffer zone, rainfall or temperature. There was no relationship between tiger attacks on people and any of the correlates examined. Wild prey density was not correlated with conflict. Of the tigers removed because of conflict, .% were male. The majority of attacks on people occurred during accidental meetings (.%), mostly while people were collecting fodder or fuelwood (.%), and almost half (.%) occurred in the buffer zone forests. We recommend the use of the conflict map developed here in the prioritization of preventive measures, and that strategies to reduce conflict should include zoning enforcement, improvement of livestock husbandry, participatory tiger monitoring, an insurance scheme, and community awareness.
Human tiger conflict and its perception in Bardia National Park, Nepal
Human-wildlife conflict is a significant problem that often results in retaliatory killing of predators. Such conflict is particularly pronounced between humans and tigers Panthera tigris because of fatal attacks by tigers on humans. We investigated the incidence and perception of human-tiger conflict in the buffer zone of Bardia National Park, Nepal, by interviewing 273 local householders and 27 key persons (e.g. representatives of local communities, Park officials). Further information was compiled from the Park's archives. The annual loss of livestock attributable to tigers was 0.26 animals per household, amounting to an annual loss of 2% of livestock. Livestock predation rates were particularly high in areas with low abundance of natural prey. During 1994-2007 12 people were killed and a further four injured in tiger attacks. Nevertheless, local people generally had a positive attitude towards tiger conservation and were willing to tolerate some loss of livestock but not human casualties. This positive attitude indicates the potential for implementation of appropriate conservation measures and we propose mitigation strategies such as education, monetary compensation and monitoring of tigers.
Journal of Forest and Natural Resource Management
Human fatalities and livestock depredation are the ultimate manifestation of human–tiger conflict (HTC). It is one of the major challenging issues that need to be sorted out where such incidences occur frequently. This study aimed to investigate the status of HTC and mitigation measures adopted by local communities in Madi valley adjacent of Chitwan National Park (CNP). Data were collected through household interviews (n=52, including 25% victim’s households), direct field observation and CNP archive records from 2014 to 2018. This study revealed that average livestock depredation was 15.60 (n=78, mean=5.06, SE±1.66) animals per year and among them goats were highly depredated animals (n=39, mean=7.80, SE±2.33). It also showed that livestock depredation trend increased at the rate of 4.1 animals per year but that of human casualties decreased at the rate of -0.3 persons per year during 2014 to 2018. Predation proof corrals, mesh wire fencing, traditional fencing using white cloths a...
Human–tiger Panthera tigris conflict and its perception in Bardia National Park, Nepal
Oryx, 2014
Human–wildlife conflict is a significant problem that often results in retaliatory killing of predators. Such conflict is particularly pronounced between humans and tigers Panthera tigris because of fatal attacks by tigers on humans. We investigated the incidence and perception of human–tiger conflict in the buffer zone of Bardia National Park, Nepal, by interviewing 273 local householders and 27 key persons (e.g. representatives of local communities, Park officials). Further information was compiled from the Park's archives. The annual loss of livestock attributable to tigers was 0.26 animals per household, amounting to an annual loss of 2% of livestock. Livestock predation rates were particularly high in areas with low abundance of natural prey. During 1994–2007 12 people were killed and a further four injured in tiger attacks. Nevertheless, local people generally had a positive attitude towards tiger conservation and were willing to tolerate some loss of livestock but not hum...
Characterizing human–tiger conflict in and around Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, western India
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2015
Human-carnivore interactions often influence carnivore conservation and result in mitigating conflicts. We studied human-tiger (Panthera tigris) conflicts in pastoral villages adjacent to Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR), Rajasthan, India for 6 years (2005-2011) and characterized and examined the causes of conflicts. We recorded 113 humantiger conflicts. Most of the conflicts between humans and tigers were from attacks on domestic livestock (88.5 %) and humans (11.5 %). Among livestock, cows, bulls, and calves accounted for 31.6, 21.1, and 16.7 %, respectively, of tiger kills followed by buffalos (19.3 %) and goats (11.4 %). Locations of depredations on livestock occurred inside villages (53.4 %), agriculture fields (44.5 %), and forests (1.9 %). We recorded 13 attacks on humans: nine were nonlethal, but four resulted in death. Attacks on humans occurred in agriculture fields (n=6), forests (n=5), and within <500 m of villages (n= 2). Attacks on humans and livestock varied seasonally, with the highest conflicts in summer (n=36) and during the monsoon (n=42). Factors that may have caused human-tiger conflicts include tiger movements, fragmentation of corridors, and human disturbance. Some of the insurance from compensation for deaths and injury could be used to mitigate conflicts, as has been done with other larger cats to minimize conflicts.
Tropical Conservation Science, 2016
Human-tiger conflict is one of the most critical issues in tiger conservation, requiring a focus on effective mitigation measures. We assessed the mitigation measures used between 2007 and 2014 in Chitwan National Park (CNP) and its buffer zone, which include: compensation payments made to human victims or their families, compensation for livestock loss through depredation, and the removal of tigers involved in conflicts. The data collected from the offices of CNP and the Buffer Zone Management Committee were triangulated during questionnaire surveys (n=83) and key informant interviews (n=13). A total compensation of US$ 93,618 ($11,702.3 per year) was paid for tiger attacks during the eight-year period. Of this, the majority (65%) was in payment for human killings, followed by payment for livestock depredations (29.3%) and for human injuries (5.7%). The payments on average covered 80.7% of medical expenses of injured persons, and 61.7% of the monetary value of killed livestock. Goa...
Ecological and sociological aspects of human-tiger conflicts in Chitwan National Park, Nepal
2008
Dr. Charles McDougal's obsession with tigers and passion for their protection over the past 48 years and our close association for nearly two decades has inspired me to work towards tiger conservation. My interest in tigers was developed when I worked with Dr. McDougal tracking individually identified tigers for several years. Individual identities of tigers were established by noting differences in face and body patterns and linking these with differences in pug marks. Using such methodology in monitoring individual tigers to understand their behavior, movement patterns, and their relationships with other tigers, provided me knowledge to appreciate this beautiful animal and infused in me a similar passion to ensure the tiger's long term survival. A vision is needed for long-term tiger conservation. I greatly appreciate Dr. James L. David Smith, my adviser, for providing that vision to conserve tiger on a landscape including forested habitat outside the protected areas. I am indebted to Dr. Smith, for admitting me into the Conservation Biology Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota (UMN), for his guidance and friendship, which had led me into the amazing world of potential tiger habitats across the terai region of Nepal in a human-dominated landscape. I realized the importance of reducing human-tiger conflict, which became the theme of my Ph.D. research, when exploring these habitats outside the protected areas. I would like to take an opportunity to thank all the people and institutions for their help to make this journey possible for me. I am sincerely grateful to Dr. Kristen C. Nelson, my committee member, who helped me in many ways to understand the human aspect of conservation. I greatly appreciate Dr. Nelson for assisting me from developing a ii survey questionnaire and analyzing social issues that are the focus of my last two chapters. I feel privileged to have her in my graduate committee. I also thank my