Lok Sabha Question No. 1287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-09
Subject: Human-Animal Conflict
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KAMAL NATH, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, PANKAJ CHOWDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1287 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2018

## Human-Animal Conflict

1287:   SHRI KAMAL NATH: SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY::

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been surge in human-animal conflicts in the past few years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has analysed or conducted any study to ascertain the reasons for the said conflicts and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether wild animals from forest areas are reaching upto human settlements in search of food, water and shortage of forest cover and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Wildlife  Protection  Society  of  India  and  some  wildlife  experts  have suggested unconventional ways to reduce human-animal conflicts and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to reduce such conflicts and increase availability of food and water in forest area for wild animals?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) Incidence  of  human-animal  conflicts  are  reported  in  various  parts  of  the  country from  time  to  time.  However,  there  are  no  data  indicating  surge  in  human-animal conflicts in the past few years.
- (b) No specific study has been conducted by the Ministry to ascertain the reasons for the said conflicts.
- (c) Sometimes the wild animals are reaching upto human settlements in search of food, water and due to shortage of forest cover.
- (d) No suggestion has been received in the Ministry from Wildlife Protection Society of India  and  other  wildlife  experts  for  unconventional  ways  to  reduce  human-animal conflicts.
- (e) The important steps taken to reduce such conflicts and increase availability of food and water in forest area for wild animals are :
- i. Ministry through its Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) namely 'Project Tiger', 'Project Elephant' and 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)' provides funds to States and UTs for carrying various activities for habitat  improvement  works  namely  restoration  of  natural  water  bodies,
- creation  of  artificial  ponds,  waterholes,  augmenting  food/fodder  sources  at various  places  within  Protected  Areas  to  minimize  the  human  animal conflict.
- ii. The Ministry, with financial assistance from Ad-hoc Compensatory Afforestation  Fund  Management  and  Planning  Authority  (CAMPA),  has formulated a scheme to provide assistance to the States for 'Augmentation of Fodder  and  Water  in  Protected  Areas/Forest  Areas',  aimed  at  improving habitat  in  the  areas  by  making  provision  for  augmenting  grass,  fodder  and water to the wild herbivores.
- iii. A  network  of  Protect Areas  namely  viz., National Park, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community  Reserving covering important wildlife habitat have been created all over the country under the provisions of the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  to  conserve  wild  animals  and  their habitats.
- iv. Construction/erecting  of  physical  barriers,  such  as  barbed  wire  fence,  solar powered  electric  fence,  bio-fencing  using  cactus,  boundary  wall  etc.  to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop field.
- v. The Ministry has approved a project for undertaking 'Immuno-contraceptive measures' for population management of wild animals.
- vi. The Ministry has issued guidelines in context of human-wildlife conflict to the  Chief  Wildlife  Wardens  of  all  the  State  Governments/Union  Territory Administrations dated 24 th December, 2014 and 1 st June, 2015
- vii. Periodic  awareness  campaigns  to  sensitize,  guide  and  advise  the  general public on man-animal  conflict, including dissemination of  information through various forms of media are undertaken.

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