Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is one of the largest carnivores of Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS). Black bear-human conflict is a major concern throughout the eastern Himalayas and particularly in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal state. A study was undertaken to assess the Black bear-Human conflicts using Questionnaire surveys within the fringe villages of Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), West Bengal during the period June-July 2013 by applying snowball-sampling technique. The black bear-human conflicts recorded were in three forms: crop raiding, livestock predation, human attacks and sometimes even death of humans. Crop damage was observed to be the most common type of conflict as reported by more than 80% of the respondents. The extent of crop damage was intense in the month of June-September, mainly concentrated along forest boundary areas which can be related to the cropping pattern and pre-hibernation period of black bears. Crop damage and livestock damage was estimated for the areas surveyed. The traditional methods adopted by the villagers to scare or chase off bear included, shouting, drumming empty tin, Bamboo netted fencing , keeping guard dogs and handmade fire mashals (Pultho). However these methods are hardly effective because their applicability lies when the villagers know about the presence of bears in their fields, which is very rare as most of the bear attacks occur during late night hours, when the villagers are in sound sleep. Provision for immediate compensation for crop damage and livestock insurance schemes was suggested by the villagers to mitigate HBC. The willingness of the villagers to adapt to measures to mitigate HBC was found to be directly related to the cooperation provided by the forest officials and NGO’s.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Study objectives
2. Literature review
2.1 Human Wildlife Conflict
2.2 General Account on Asiatic black bear
(a)Habitat and Ecology
(b)Geographic distribution
2.3 Human-Black bear Conflict
3. Study area
3.1 General view
3.2 Climate
3.3 Forest type
3.4 Soil
3.5 People and communities
4. Methodology
(a) Method
(b) Sampling Method
(c) Material Requirements
5. Results
5.1 Status of HBC (2011-2013)
(a) HBC based on crop raiding and crop damage
(b) HBC based on livestock killing
(c) HBC based on human death and injury
5.2 Assessment of current mitigation measures adopted
5.3 Assessment of the people’s perception towards adopting modern mitigation measures and conservation of Asiatic black bears
6. Discussion
6.1 Status of HBC
6.2 Mitigation measures
6.3 Perception of local people towards conservation of Asiatic black bear
7. Conclusion and Recommendations
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary objective of this study is to assess the current status of human-Asiatic black bear conflicts in the fringe villages of the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Darjeeling, while identifying existing mitigation practices and analyzing the local community's attitude toward conservation and modern conflict management strategies.
- Status assessment of human-black bear conflict (2011-2013).
- Evaluation of crop damage patterns and livestock predation.
- Investigation into traditional mitigation measures used by villagers.
- Analysis of community perception regarding bear conservation and future conflict management.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Human-wildlife conflict
Human-wildlife conflict is defined as ‘Any interaction between humans and wildlife that results in negative impacts on human social, economic or cultural life for the conservation of wildlife populations, or on the environment (HWC manual, WWF 2005). Diminishing of natural and wildlife resources has been related to human actions through excess exploitation, habitat destruction, pollution and introduction of exotic species.
Expansion of livestock production around the world has also led to overgrazing, land degradation, fragmentation, loss of wildlife habitat, and deforestation of natural land (Reid, Walter et al 2005). As the human population grows, there is an increasing demand for food, fresh water, energy, raw materials, and access to arable land (Distefano & Elisa 2005). Conflict situations can arise anywhere, but they are maximized at the periphery of protected areas, where wildlife enjoys protection and land is often productive, leading to a wealth of immense agriculture.
There are mainly two forms which lead to conflict between wild animals and humans: (i) Damage to agricultural crops by wild animals and direct competition for forage between domestic livestock and wild animals. (ii) Direct threat to human life, livestock and destruction of property by wild animals. Human – wildlife conflict comes in the way of conservation program as it affects the support of local communities (Lahm 1996; Thou less 1994; Williams et al. 2001) and endanger already threatened wildlife species, like tigers, elephants, leopards, bears, gorillas and wolves, hindering the pursuit of development and poverty alleviation goals for impoverished people (HWCC brochure 907).
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction: Provides an overview of the Asiatic black bear, its global distribution, status in India, and the specific context of the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary as a focus for conflict research.
Chapter 2: Literature review: Defines the broader concept of human-wildlife conflict and details the biology, ecology, and distribution of the Asiatic black bear to set the theoretical stage for the study.
Chapter 3: Study area: Describes the geographical, climatic, and socio-economic characteristics of the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding 19 fringe villages.
Chapter 4: Methodology: Outlines the use of questionnaire-based surveys and the snowball-sampling technique to gather data from 120 respondents across six villages.
Chapter 5: Results: Presents quantitative data on the 100 crop raiding and 70 livestock killing cases recorded between 2011 and 2013, alongside assessments of current mitigation efforts.
Chapter 6: Discussion: Analyzes the causes of conflicts, such as habitat destruction and human encroachment, and evaluates the effectiveness of current traditional mitigation methods.
Chapter 7: Conclusion and Recommendations: Synthesizes the study findings and suggests management strategies, emphasizing the need for joint management schemes, improved compensation, and active government involvement.
Keywords
West Bengal, Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Asiatic black bear, Conflict, Crop raiding, Mitigation measures, Livestock predation, Human-wildlife interaction, Darjeeling, Habitat degradation, Community perception, Conservation, Wildlife management, Questionnaire survey, Snowball-sampling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary scope of this project?
This project assesses the status of human-Asiatic black bear conflicts and the efficacy of current mitigation measures within the fringe villages of the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary in Darjeeling, West Bengal.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The study covers human-wildlife conflict dynamics, black bear ecology, agricultural crop damage, livestock predation, traditional local mitigation methods, and community attitudes toward wildlife conservation.
What is the specific research objective?
The objectives are to determine the extent of conflict cases (2011-2013), identify currently adopted mitigation techniques, and gauge the willingness of local villagers to adopt modern solutions and participate in conservation efforts.
Which scientific methodology was applied?
The research employed a qualitative and quantitative questionnaire-based survey using the snowball-sampling technique to interview 120 respondents across six fringe villages.
What are the main findings of the study?
The study found that crop raiding is the primary form of conflict, particularly during the monsoon months (June-September), and that current traditional mitigation methods are largely ineffective, leading to community dissatisfaction.
What key terms characterize this research?
The work is characterized by terms such as Asiatic black bear, Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, human-wildlife conflict, crop raiding, and mitigation measures.
How does the distance from the forest boundary affect conflict levels?
The study indicates a direct correlation where the intensity of crop damage is highest in fields adjacent to the forest and decreases as the distance from the forest boundary increases.
What do the villagers suggest to reduce conflict?
Villagers suggest the implementation of compensation schemes for crop and livestock loss, the use of more effective deterrents like electric fencing, and greater cooperation from the Forest Department and local NGOs.
- Citar trabajo
- Gargi Tariyal (Autor), 2013, Current status of human-black bear conflict and the mitigation measures adopted around Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/343399
