Assessment of Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Poba Reserved Forest, Dhemaji District, Assam (INDIA)

摘要

Human-wildlife conflicts from 1971-2013 in Poba Reserved Forest ispresented here. Data collection included interview, records of forestdepartment and participant observation. There is an increasing trend ofhuman-wildlife conflict in Poba RF. Encroachment for agriculturalexpansion, frequent venturing into forests to collect minor forest productsand livestock grazing are major causes of conflicts. Most cases of conflictoccurred in forests and crop f ields suggesting encroachment and venturinginto animal habitat exposed human to conflict with wildlife. Pearson'scorrelation at 0.01 level of signif icance showed positive correlation betweenwildlife injured/killed and livestock killed/injured (0.819411) and wildlifeinjured/killed and property damaged (0.658009) but negative correlationbetween wildlife injured/killed and crop damaged (-0.04104). Crop raidingby wildlife caused considerable damage to crops and property resulting infood insecurity and economic loss to farmers; farmers also sufferedeconomic lossdue to livestock lifting bypreyanimals. Long yearsof exposureto crop and property loss and risk to life are associated with negative attitudetowards wildlife. The present report will be useful in understanding thenature of conflicts and help local forestdepartment in initiating appropriateconservation measures in Poba RF.