The recurring incidents of human-animal conflict in Uttar Pradesh highlights the need for sustainable development. The state government has declared man-animal conflict as a state-specific disaster and implemented various measures to address the issue, including the use of drones and the establishment of buffer zones. However, the question remains whether these efforts are sufficient to prevent future conflicts and ensure the coexistence of humans and wildlife.
The recent spate of wolf attacks in Bahraich, Shravasti and Sitapur, jackals in Barabanki, and leopards in Lakhimpur Kheri and Bijnor, all in the State of Uttar Pradesh, are hinting at an early warning towards unsustainable development.
Uttar Pradesh, a predominantly agrarian state nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, is a treasure trove of biodiversity due to its diverse topography that supports a wide range of ecosystems. Biodiversity is a crucial component of the food web and is important to maintain the delicate ecological balance. This ecological richness is a cornerstone of the food chain and is vital for maintaining the delicate balance of nature. However, economic development is also crucial for human existence and it often demands the sacrifice of the verdant forests of Mother Nature. Such encroachment upon natural habitats can lead to the displacement of wild creatures, who may be compelled to seek refuge in human settlements, posing a potential threat to the vulnerable human civilisation.
The Uttar Pradesh Government had taken a proactive stance on human-animal conflict in the year 2018 by classifying ‘Man – Animal Conflict’ as a state-specific disaster. This decision will allow for better coordination and faster relief efforts when such incidents occur.
By listing man-animal conflict under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), the state government aims to ensure quicker assistance to affected individuals, raise awareness about the issue, and provide police support in the areas where conflicts are reported. Additionally, the move will lead to the development of clear guidelines for effective handling of situations where wild animals enter human settlements. It will improve collaboration among government agencies and ensure that affected people receive timely relief. With the declaration under the SDRF, the police and local administration will be able to respond promptly to such incidents.
Deforestation, driven by factors such as urbanisation, agriculture, and industrialisation, is a serious issue in Uttar Pradesh. Coupled with habitat loss, deforestation can increase the number of encounters between the wild ferals and the homo sapiens. Animals lack moral reasoning and have a behaviour that is driven by instinct, whereas humans have a conscience; that is to say, they can weigh the consequences of their actions in terms of right and wrong, good and bad. For example, wolf hunting a prey is primarily guided by instinct, whereas actions to check the prowling on humans should be conscience-driven.
The state government under its ‘Operation Bhediya’ has given the nod to shoot the man-eating wolves at sight after the wolf attacks in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich left ten people dead and as many as 34 injured, as of September 4, 2024. So far, a pack of four wolves has been caught, and two more may be on the loose, according to the forest department officials, but this may be just the tip of the iceberg because the forests adjacent to the village may have hundreds of them. Will it be a wise decision to go about killing an entire species of wolves or jackals? The State officials, however, clarified that the mandate to shoot the animals only follows the failure to catch them. The wolves of Bahraich evade the snares, drones, nets and cages and therefore it is difficult for the State Officials to catch them and relocate them to the nearby forests such as the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
Drones equipped with infrared cameras are being deployed to track the wolves’ movements, especially at night when the attacks typically occur. The thermal cameras can detect the wolves’ body heat signatures, allowing officials to pinpoint their location even in dense vegetation or darkness. Drones provide a bird’s eye view of the affected areas and help in aerial surveillance, enabling forest teams to quickly respond to wolf sightings reported by villagers. Based on the data collected from drone surveillance, officials are strategically placing nets and cages baited with goats and life-size dolls to attract and capture the wolves. When a wolf is spotted by a drone, the information is immediately relayed to the nearest ground team, which can then quickly respond and attempt to capture or drive away the animal. The deployment of drones, along with other measures such as increased ground patrols and awareness campaigns, has helped intensify the efforts to protect the villagers from further attacks and capture the wolves responsible.
While the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists grey wolves and golden jackals as Least Concern globally, the Indian and Himalayan wolf subspecies are considered endangered in Bharat due to various threats. The Leopards, the Indian Wolf and the Himalayan wolf are considered endangered and are therefore protected under Schedule I of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 whereas the golden jackal under Schedule II of the Act is a highly protected species which is not critically endangered. The legal penalties for violations under the Act are less severe for Schedule II species than Schedule I species. If all the efforts to catch the attacking animals fail, as a measure of last resort, the animal may be shot at sight, but such a power should be used sparingly.
The intermittent interactions between man and animal can have negative consequences for both species. There are profound direct economic costs associated with such attacks, such as loss of livestock and compensation claims by the families significantly affected by fatalities, which instils fear and economic disruption in the communities. The changes in human behaviour would go to the extent of avoiding outdoor activities in the attack-prone areas, which may again have indirect economic impacts on the local tourism and recreational industries. Balancing these economic impacts with conservation efforts remains a challenge for the wildlife management authorities in the State of Uttar Pradesh.
However, the question is not who is encroaching upon whose territory; the issue is as to how we can ensure sustainable development. Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land, is directly related to the protection of the terrestrial ecosystems, biodiversity, and wildlife. It aims to promote sustainable forest management, combat desertification, and halt land degradation.
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is the cornerstone of wildlife conservation in Bharat. The Act prohibits hunting, trading, and capturing wild animals and provides for the establishment of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves. The Uttar Pradesh State Wildlife Board provides policy guidance and coordination for wildlife conservation in the state. It also oversees the implementation of wildlife conservation programs. The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department is responsible for the management of forests, which often serve as wildlife habitats. They can enforce wildlife law, establish protected areas and take action against illegal activities such as poaching, killing and trading. They can investigate wildlife crimes, apprehend offenders, and rehabilitate injured, orphaned or stray animals that have escaped the protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries.
To prevent the wildlife from escaping protected areas and entering into human settlements, buffer zones should be designed in a manner such that they are sufficiently large to act as a barrier between the core wildlife areas and the human settlements. They should be strategically located around the periphery of protected areas, especially where human activity is concentrated. Vegetation in buffer zones should be managed to discourage the escape or outward wildlife movement. Planting thorny or unpalatable plants can deter the wild animals from crossing. Maintaining a mix of habitats that are less attractive to wildlife, such as open grasslands, can reduce the appeal for animals to venture out. Erecting physical barriers, trenches or walls along the boundary of buffer zones can effectively block animal movement. These barriers should be properly maintained to ensure their continued effectiveness.
Local communities can be involved through economic incentives, in the buffer zone protection and management as it fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility. Incorporating new technologies, such as early warning systems, can enhance the efficiency of buffer zone management over time. Education and training of the local communities about wildlife behaviour and safety measures can foster understanding and tolerance, thereby equipping the communities to effectively handle potential encounters with wildlife.
Protecting and restoring wildlife habitats can reduce the need for animals to encroach on human settlements in search of food and shelter. This includes creating wildlife corridors and establishing protected areas to facilitate safe animal movement. Techniques such as fencing, scare devices, and crop diversification can help protect the crops from wildlife damage and reduce the economic losses for the farmers. To mitigate further man-animal conflicts, it is crucial to prioritise sustainable development and adopt a holistic approach that involves habitat restoration, community engagement, and technological advancements. The harmonious coexistence of humans and wildlife should be properly planned specifically in the risk-prone hotspots of conflict between man and animal, such that in the desire for quick and fast-paced development, Mother Nature’s ecological balance and health are not compromised. This world was equally made for animals and humans to respect nature’s biodiversity and limit the levels of encroachment into their territory to avoid such retaliatory attacks from the wild agents of the forest, a sentinel of environmental imbalance.
