An assessment of human-wildlife conflict around Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, Kamrup (M), Assam, India
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Abstract
Significant uncontrolled urbanization due to enormous developmental activities, along with encroachment, led to higher human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in the newly notified Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary located within the Guwahati Metro City of Assam, India. An assessment was carried out in five villages under the Chandrapur Block, Kamrup (M), Assam, India, between 2019 and 2021 using a questionnaire and field survey methods to find out the status of HWC at the fringe area of Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary. The majority of the respondents (71.66%) stated that elephants were solely responsible for HWC, followed by leopards in the study area. The primary cause of human-elephant conflict (49.17%) was found to be a shortage of food and water. The majority of respondents (59.17%) reported having house damage, followed by other property damage. Lone/small herds of elephants were responsible for the majority (87.5%) of all incidents. On the other hand, the decline in wild prey was identified as the primary cause (54.17%) of human-leopard conflict. Goats were the main prey of leopards (70.63%), followed by dogs (12.59%), pigs (10.49%), cows (4.19%), and buffalo (2.1%). The study further suggests that residents should remain vigilant during the evening, as the majority of elephant raids or leopard attacks occurred during this period. Various measures like patrolling, building a trench, electric fencing, etc., were suggested by the affected villagers for mitigating HWC in this landscape.
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An assessment of human-wildlife conflict around Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, Kamrup (M), Assam, India
In: Israel Journal of Ecology and EvolutionSearch for other papers by Anindita Bhattacharya in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Sunny Das in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Dhurjati Pathak in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Prabal Sarkar in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Nazimur Rahman Talukdar in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Parthankar Choudhury in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
Significant uncontrolled urbanization due to enormous developmental activities, along with encroachment, led to higher human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in the newly notified Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary located within the Guwahati Metro City of Assam, India. An assessment was carried out in five villages under the Chandrapur Block, Kamrup (M), Assam, India, between 2019 and 2021 using a questionnaire and field survey methods to find out the status of HWC at the fringe area of Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary. The majority of the respondents (71.66%) stated that elephants were solely responsible for HWC, followed by leopards in the study area. The primary cause of human-elephant conflict (49.17%) was found to be a shortage of food and water. The majority of respondents (59.17%) reported having house damage, followed by other property damage. Lone/small herds of elephants were responsible for the majority (87.5%) of all incidents. On the other hand, the decline in wild prey was identified as the primary cause (54.17%) of human-leopard conflict. Goats were the main prey of leopards (70.63%), followed by dogs (12.59%), pigs (10.49%), cows (4.19%), and buffalo (2.1%). The study further suggests that residents should remain vigilant during the evening, as the majority of elephant raids or leopard attacks occurred during this period. Various measures like patrolling, building a trench, electric fencing, etc., were suggested by the affected villagers for mitigating HWC in this landscape.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 249 | 249 | 35 |
| Full Text Views | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 4 | 4 | 3 |
