Human-animal conflict: One battle with no winners!

The decision by top Forest Department officials from three states, namely Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu to coordinate their efforts to deal with humananimal conflict within their territories is a welcome initiative.

There have been reports of human lives and crops being lost due to influx of wild animals into the villages skirting three adjacent wildlife sanctuaries of Bandipore, Nagarhole and Mudumalai in the three states.

Due to the contiguity of the territory, animals freely stray into other states and attack human habitation and farms.

Attempts by the states to tackle the challenge individually have proved futile as the territory is vast and animals have no domicile status. While on popular level, some blame game has been witnessed, the authorities have since long perceived the issue as one that urges coordinated effort.

The Sunday’s meeting hosted by Karnataka has come as a good augury towards tackling it as an interstate issue.

The recent months have witnessed elephants straying into human habitations in areas close to Bandipore sanctuary in Karnataka. A Kerala survey in 2023 had revealed a total of 1,233 people being killed due to attack by wild animals.

These were reported from 11 of the 13 districts of Kerala. An estimated 30 lakh people are stated to be living in 120 villages close to the periphery of sanctuaries in Kerala.

The increased conflict is also attributed to increased population of wildlife due to effective conservation efforts.

This might come as a good omen but questions are being raised with regard to the carrying capacity of these wildlife sanctuaries where animals have to often trek long distances between February and May which brings them in conflict with humans.