Man-Animal Conflict is one of the most alarming issues in the field of wildlife conservation. In last few months we have faced many problems in the state. There are many views on this issue. Mr. Amit Misra is a professional C.A. but I know him as a keen wildlifer and bird watcher. He and his friends...rather good friends... Sameer Pandey, Manasvi Jain and Shekhar simply love forests and wildlife and always show very keen interest in related isssues.
Amit Misra Writes: A man-animal conflict results in a lot of bitterness for the wild animals. But the question is who is to be blamed ? On one hand we have the animals who do not know the boundaries of civilized living and while roaming free thinking the world to be their homes and often pound upon a person who the perceive as a threat walking into their homes. So from their side they are not at fault. On the other hand we have the human population living in and around the forest area with “living and surviving” primary in their minds . They too need the basics of living and also want that “development” to take place around them so their point of view is also correct. Then who is to be blamed ???. Well the answer lies in the fact that human population irrespective of the geography has increased rapidly and so have the pressure exerted by the population on the natural resources. Often the human victim of a wild animal, has actually gone too close to the wild animal and thus resulted in inducing the animal into attacking them. Another reason for these attack can be decrease in the prey base of the carnivores (again due to human related factors like deforestation etc.) which makes animals venture near the human population. What worries me more is that with the present declining populations we have reasonalbe numbers of conflicts , then whether the recent campaign to protect the Tiger, which in turn may result in a larger population of carnivores in general be supported by our present jungles or would it result in more conflicts. We have to set priorities as to whether we need to protect these carnivores and the jungle or the human population. Both cannot shake hands and move along as one is a wild animal and another a selfish species. People living the forest areas have to understand the basic safety requirements they are required to meet and also that they live in a dangerous area and so might result in some casualties (similar to a person living in say the border area with Pakistan and who understands the dangers of shelling from the other side) and also to be respected is the fact that animals do not have a voice to defend themselves for their actions.
As Posted by Amit Misra on April 26, 2008 12:08 AM
Amit Misra Writes: A man-animal conflict results in a lot of bitterness for the wild animals. But the question is who is to be blamed ? On one hand we have the animals who do not know the boundaries of civilized living and while roaming free thinking the world to be their homes and often pound upon a person who the perceive as a threat walking into their homes. So from their side they are not at fault. On the other hand we have the human population living in and around the forest area with “living and surviving” primary in their minds . They too need the basics of living and also want that “development” to take place around them so their point of view is also correct. Then who is to be blamed ???. Well the answer lies in the fact that human population irrespective of the geography has increased rapidly and so have the pressure exerted by the population on the natural resources. Often the human victim of a wild animal, has actually gone too close to the wild animal and thus resulted in inducing the animal into attacking them. Another reason for these attack can be decrease in the prey base of the carnivores (again due to human related factors like deforestation etc.) which makes animals venture near the human population. What worries me more is that with the present declining populations we have reasonalbe numbers of conflicts , then whether the recent campaign to protect the Tiger, which in turn may result in a larger population of carnivores in general be supported by our present jungles or would it result in more conflicts. We have to set priorities as to whether we need to protect these carnivores and the jungle or the human population. Both cannot shake hands and move along as one is a wild animal and another a selfish species. People living the forest areas have to understand the basic safety requirements they are required to meet and also that they live in a dangerous area and so might result in some casualties (similar to a person living in say the border area with Pakistan and who understands the dangers of shelling from the other side) and also to be respected is the fact that animals do not have a voice to defend themselves for their actions.
As Posted by Amit Misra on April 26, 2008 12:08 AM
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