Increasing Human–Animal Conflict in India

India is witnessing a rise in human–wildlife conflicts, threatening both community safety and wildlife conservation. These conflicts challenge sustainable development by disrupting ecological balance and local livelihoods.

What is Human-Animal Conflict?

Human–animal conflict refers to any adverse interaction caused by wildlife behaviour that harms human communities’ goals.
It is recognised as a global concern in the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15 (2022) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Kerala became the first state to declare human–wildlife conflict a state-specific disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Causes of Human–Animal Conflict

Habitat Fragmentation: Expanding linear projects like roads and railways disrupt wildlife corridors and migration routes, forcing animals into human settlements.
Population Pressure: High human density increases pressure on land resources, leading to greater encroachment into former wildlife habitats.
Agricultural Patterns: Cultivating crops like sugarcane and banana near forest edges attracts elephants and wild pigs; farmers in Assam, Odisha, and Karnataka often report nighttime crop raids.
Climate Stress: Erratic rainfall, droughts and floods disrupt natural food availability, forcing wildlife to move towards human-dominated landscapes.
Forest Degradation: Invasive plants and monoculture plantations diminish natural fodder, leading to greater dependence on crops.
Conservation Conflict: Successful conservation has increased tiger and elephant populations, outpacing habitat expansion, thus causing spillover into villages.

Impacts of Human–Animal Conflict

Wildlife Mortality: Around 186 elephants died in train collisions in India from 2009–10 to 2020–21, and 222 were electrocuted between 2018–19 and 2020–21. (MoEFCC)
- Assam recorded the highest rail fatalities, followed by West Bengal and Odisha. (Project Elephant)
Human Casualties: Elephant attacks killed over 1,500 people between 2019–20 and 2021–22, causing fear, resentment, and retaliatory actions within local communities.
Ecological Loss: Several vulture species declined by more than 95% due to habitat loss and poisoning from veterinary drugs; this has led to an increase in rotting carcasses, posing a public health risk.
Economic Damage: Crop losses, livestock depredation, and property damage sharply reduce farm incomes; annual yield losses are estimated at 10-35%.

Government Initiatives

HWC-NAP: The National Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan outline a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to resolving conflicts.
Disaster Classification: Kerala declared human–wildlife conflict a “state-specific disaster,” enabling faster relief, compensation, and coordination under the Disaster Management Act.
Central Scheme: Schemes like the Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger, and Project Elephant provide funding to states for habitat improvement and conflict mitigation.
CAMPA Funds: These are allocated for afforestation, waterhole creation, and habitat enrichment to reduce wildlife movement into cultivated areas.
Buffer Zones: Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) act as transition belts around Protected Areas to limit human activity and safeguard wildlife movement.

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Way Forward

Integrated Planning: Thorough Environmental Impact Assessments of development projects to protect wildlife corridors and buffer zones.
Technology Use: Use AI-based surveillance, GPS-collaring, and GIS mapping for real-time alerts and to identify high-risk conflict zones for targeted interventions.
Safe Barriers: Solar fencing, elephant-proof trenches, bio-fencing (chilli or cactus), and beehive fences to deter elephants while minimising harm.
Habitat Connectivity: Prioritising the restoration of critical wildlife corridors to maintain safe and continuous animal movement routes.
Ethical Measures: Non-lethal deterrents, least-harm approaches, and community sensitisation to guide conflict-management practices.

Effective human–wildlife coexistence requires holistic strategies, research, barriers, enabling policies, and community action within frameworks like the Wildlife (Protection) Act. A combination of compassion, community involvement, and innovative habitat management can turn conflicts into sustainable coexistence.

Reference: The Hindu

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 449

Q. Increasing human-wildlife interactions are affecting both communities and wildlife. Examine the key drivers and evaluate the effectiveness of government interventions, such as Project Elephant and the National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (HWC-NAP). (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Write a brief introduction about the Human-Animal Conflict by mentioning the Kunming–Montreal Biodiversity Framework.
Body: Examine the key drivers, evaluate the effectiveness of government interventions and ways forward.
Conclusion: Focus on cohabitation and the coexistence principle to lessen human-wildlife conflict.