Escalating Human-Wildlife Conflicts: An Urgent Call for Policy Action

Human-wildlife conflicts are escalating across various states in India, including Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal, leading to tragic outcomes for many individuals. These conflicts typically involve encounters between humans and large animals such as tigers, elephants, and leopards, resulting in loss of life and livelihoods.

Defined by the interaction between wild animals and humans, these conflicts have far-reaching negative impacts on both communities and wildlife, as resources become strained and safety is compromised. As such incidents become increasingly common, there is a pressing need for policy reforms to address this complex issue. Wildlife authorities are finding themselves ill-equipped to manage the rising tide of human-animal clashes, which manifest primarily as conflicts between humans and lions, cheetahs, and elephants.

In the Sundarbans of West Bengal, home to over 500 Bengal tigers, the human toll is particularly stark, with between 50 and 100 fatalities attributed to tiger encounters annually. Similarly, human-elephant conflicts claim the lives of approximately 400 people each year in India, disproportionately affecting those from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds.

Leopards pose another significant threat, responsible for more human deaths than any other carnivore in India. Incidents are frequently reported from regions such as West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Assam, with Uttarakhand’s Corbett National Park notorious for attacks on humans by man-eating leopards.

Even in hilly regions, the conflict persists. Uttarakhand, for instance, has seen 219 human fatalities in the past three years alone, with over 1,000 casualties reported from human-wildlife encounters during the same period. While the number of deaths fluctuates annually, the overall trend is alarming, highlighting the urgency of intervention.

West Bengal, particularly its northern and western areas along elephant corridors, is also grappling with a surge in human-elephant conflicts. The elephant population has steadily increased, far outpacing the expansion of forested areas. As a result, an average of 35 to 50 lives are lost annually to elephant attacks in the state.

The Jangal Mahal region, encompassing districts like Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia, and Pasam Mednipur, faces similar challenges due to encroachment on elephant corridors. With the corridor extending into neighboring Jharkhand, villages and agricultural lands are increasingly vulnerable to elephant intrusions, leading to frequent confrontations and casualties.

In the Sundarbans, the largest delta region globally and home to Royal Bengal Tigers, environmental degradation exacerbates the risks. Shrinking forests, erosion, and unplanned human settlements further strain an already fragile ecosystem. Local activities such as honey collection and fishing expose individuals to the danger of tiger encounters, resulting in fatalities.

As human-wildlife conflicts continue to escalate, urgent action is needed to safeguard both human lives and biodiversity. Effective policy measures, coupled with community engagement and habitat conservation, are imperative to mitigate these conflicts and foster coexistence between humans and wildlife.