BENGALURU:
"There is an urgent need to conduct scientific studies on the behaviour
and distribution of leopards and elephants outside protected areas to
gain a better understanding of conflict situations. Most studies today
focus only on forest areas while an increasing number of wild animals is
found outside." This was one of the suggestions made by wildlife
conservationist Dr Vidya Athreya at a workshop on Friday.
Vidya, senior research fellow, Wildlife Conservation Society, has been
studying leopards for years. Big cats are always in the news and often
for the wrong reasons, she observed. "In India, carnivores like leopards
have a larger prey base outside forests - cattle, goat or sheep.
Leopards are the most adaptable big cats found in a variety of habitats;
this is why we hear about them everywhere. Through radio collaring, we
have found they are capable of living among a high density of people.
They often prey on dogs," she explained.
Commenting on the need
for a greater understanding of conflict cases, Vidya said traditional
methods of fencing protected areas should be relooked. "Wild animals
don't follow man-made boundaries, they will go wherever there are
resources for them," she added.
Dr Prithiviraj Fernando, an
elephant expert from Sri Lanka, said 70% of the jumbos in the island
nation lives outside protected areas and the government should involve
communities to deal with conflict situations. "Conflict between humans
and elephants arises because of planned and unplanned development
without no appropriate safeguards in place. Fencing of villages is only a
short-term measure. Land-use planning should be done based on human
development and elephant needs," he pointed out.
source
No comments:
Post a Comment