CHANGES IN ECO-SYSTEM LEAD TO MAN-ANIMAL CONFLICTS

CHANGES IN ECO-SYSTEM LEAD TO MAN-ANIMAL CONFLICTS

Panic attack:Villagers confront a leopard that had strayed into Angamoozhy, located on the forest fringes of Pathanamthitta in February. The animal was killed in the mob action. The Central Travancore district of Pathanamthitta with 52 .6 per cent of its geographical area comprising forests has witnessed frequent man-animal conflicts along the forest fringes.Two leopards that had strayed into human habitations of Angamoozhy and Kummannoor met with a sad end during the past 10 months. There have been several instances of wild pigs and elephants straying into human habitations destroying crops along the forest fringes of Chittar, Seethathode, Manpilavu, Neelipilavu, Perinad, Pambavalley, Placherry, Makkappuzha, Pallippady, Gavi, etc.P.O.Nameer, head of the Department of Wildlife at the Forestry College in Thrissur told The Hindu that rapid increase in the wildlife population (thanks to better wildlife protection measures of the Forest Department) coupled with the pressure on the fringe areas due to cultivation of palatable crop along the forest fringes were the two major factors that led to frequent straying of wild animals into human habitation.

M.S. Rajendran, Ranni block panchayat member, stressed the need to protect people’s life and property by effectively implementing the much publicised bio-fencing project, solar fencing project, etc. The Forest Department is still ill equipped to capture a wild beast without harming it. The death of two leopards that had strayed into the villages of Moozhiyar and Kummannur were sad testimony to this truth, he added.According to G. Prasad, Assistant Conservator of Forests, mob psychology is a major hurdle in properly addressing the problems related to straying of animals into human habitation and to protect the wildlife.Mushrooming of granite quarries along the forest borders has led to drastic changes in the forest eco-system, forcing wild animals to stray of their natural habitat.Unscrupulous quarrying of rocks has reportedly resulted in drastic depletion of the groundwater table in the region and this too amply justifies the straying out of wild animals from the forests.The changes taking place in the forest eco-system, owing to climate change and excessive human intervention, too have been identified as factors leading to straying of wild animals into human habitations where they can get cattle and dog as easy prey, experts say.

Prof. John Kurakar