PARITOSH KIMOTHI/Dehradun
Community-based conservation expert and executive director of American non-governmental organisation Blackfoot Challenge, Seth M Wilson said that Hindu cultural beliefs are an important factor that encourages human-wildlife coexistence. In an exclusive conversation with The Pioneer during his visit to Uttarakhand on the invitation of former principal chief conservator of forests Rajiv Bhartari, Wilson shared his experiences and feedback from his visit along with probable solutions to the human-wildlife conflict in the State.
Wilson and Bhartari met the governor, lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh on Monday and later met the Forest minister Subodh Uniyal to discuss wildlife related issues in the State. Wilson said that it is vital that the problem is identified and agreed upon to effectively address human-wildlife conflict. “Hindu, Indian cultural beliefs are encouraging for human-wildlife coexistence. We visited a village neighbouring Corbett tiger reserve where the villagers said that the tigers and leopards are their neighbours. They said that they understand the tigers and leopards while the big cats also understand them,” he said, while adding that he would like to explain this attitude back home in the USA.
He further said, “Instead of working in isolation, all the departments concerned need to work in a coordinated manner along with the locals to address the situation. It is important to understand animal behaviour and work with professionals and locals while also giving the people an economic incentive to resolve the conflict situation. An issue, especially when it comes to human-wildlife conflict in Uttarakhand is livestock and carcass management, which should be addressed so that improper disposal of carcasses doesn’t make the carnivores associate an area near human habitations with a food source. Such a situation may increase the risk of encounters and conflict situations between people and wildlife.” Regarding his experience in Uttarakhand, he said that it is a rugged terrain where responding to emergencies related to wildlife can be a major challenge. He said that the human population of India is a challenge but it can also be harnessed by efforts including awareness generation to achieve a situation which benefits both the people and the wildlife. On the subject of tourism, he stated that it is necessary to regulate such activities to prevent a detrimental effect on wildlife and environment.
Bhartari said that he and Wilson had interactions with public representatives, locals and officials in Maletha, Rudraprayag and Corbett on the human-wildlife conflict. Stating that attacks by bears on humans have generally been higher than attacks by leopards, he said that the efforts needed to address the human-wildlife conflict shouldn’t be compartmentalised. “The Forest, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry departments are making efforts but these appear to be in isolation. It is vital to communicate and collaborate to resolve the human-wildlife conflict,” he said.
