When leopards and humans meet

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When leopards and humans meet

India holds conference on managing conflict between the two

© Dawn M Smith

 

Feb 14, 2007

 

National Workshop looks at ways to manage Human-Leopard Conflict.

Methods of preventing predation on livestock and attacks on humans

needed to save the leopard in India

In January 2007, a workshop was held in India to develop a national

policy on dealing with Human-Leopard Conflict. While many species

can be implicated in human-animal conflict, leopards (Panthera

pardus) are considered the carnivore most in conflict with humans in

India. They can exist comfortably at the edge of human civilization.

With serious depletion of wild prey, leopards turn to predating on

livestock or even humans. Humans make the situation worse by

cultivating crops such as sugar cane and tea near protected areas.

These crops provide sheltering habitat for leopards as they disperse

to find new territory. Leopards are also known to shelter in

buildings or sheds unbeknownst to people, that is, until they are

seen leaving. So there can be a non-conflict relationship between

the leopard and humans. But if livestock is taken or humans are

attacked people want the leopard removed.

 

Often the offending animals are young males dispersing from their

natal area. Translocation of the leopard has been the method of

choice, as leopard are listed as CITES (Convention on International

Trade in Endangered Species) Appendix 1 and Schedule 1 of India's

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. But recent studies have shown that

translocation isn't working. Leopards that were hard released

(simply let free in a new area without being held in an

acclimatization pen) went right back where they came from. And right

back to feeding on livestock or attacking humans.

 

Alternatives being considered at the conference included:

 

Consolidation of protected area boundaries

Reducing the risks associated with human encroachment

 

Leaving open space between the protected areas and local villages

If leopards can't easily travel without being seen they are less

likely to disperse in that

 

direction

 

Compensation programs for livestock loss

One study showed an average loss of 9% of annual income to leopards

in a

 

severely affected area.

 

Training local people in improved livestock husbandry methods to

prevent predation

Educating local people on living safely with large predators nearby

Identifying and killing problem individuals

This is the most controversial idea and may not be allowed under the

Wildlife Protection Act unless the animal has become dangerous to

human life. In each case the Chief Wildlife Officer must grant

permission. And he must ensure that this is the only option left.

 

So what will the new policy look like? Watch this space!

 

Resources:

 

National workshop for formulating Human-Leopard conflict management

policy, Compendium of articles

 

Wildlife Trust of India