Wildlife and Nature Conservation - Centre for Ecological Sciences

done after obtaining adequate knowledge of species biology. This may be done understrictly scientifically monitored manner only and in case of big cats with an essentialpre-requisite of radio-collared monitoring.c) Ungulates: There is recurring and severe conflict between crop grazing ungulatesthat live in proximity of human beings such as the nilgai, blackbuck, etc., in manyparts of India. The emphasis should be on protection of crop using intensiveprotection methods during peak raiding periods This should be a priority wildlifeconservation measure as crop damage is driving local people into poisoningindiscriminately, sometimes leading to casualties of humans, livestock and muchmore endangered animals. Conflict must therefore be viewed as a very importantthreat to wildlife in the current scenario. A very appropriate measure would be todevelop alternatives to the current cropping pattern, involving agricultureexperts/institutions and taking into consideration the animal/bird species that arecausing the major damage in a given area, the soil and climate suitable to the cropssuggested as alternatives, their profitability, etc. For instance, it is known that cropslike chillies, “jeera”, “karela” and aloe vera are not damaged by blackbuck and others.Lack of compensation or delay in the disbursement for the damage causes to the life andproperty by wild animals, is another cause for the animosity against PAs and species.Compensation could be divided broadly with two categories – for death of a human beingand secondly death to livestock and damage to crops and other property.Normally, it takes weeks, if not months before compensation is paid and that too oftenafter paying a bribe to expedite payment. The compensation amount is frequently verymeagre and retribution comes by way of poisoning of carnivores, electrocution bydangling live wires, trapping or outright killing.An example could be had from the endeavor of the tiger conservation programme ofWWF-India under which arrangements were made to reward anyone bringing news of acarnivore kill, making compensation payment within the day if possible and then havingpaid full compensation of the value of the animal, to be decided by the elders of theaffected village, taking possession of the kill and then allowing the killer to have its food.This would prevent the concerned predator from hunting again, of the “kill” being takenaway, and prevent the kill from being poisoned, as it would be watched over by anominee of the people and being paid for it. The most important impact of the efficacyof the system was that not one tiger or panther was poisoned in the vicinity of the CorbettNational Park despite over 1500 livestock having been killed, over a period of about 15months.Human kills should be compensated even more expeditiously, but they are not.Attempts have been made to insure crops against damage by wild animals. Thecommercial banks, however, are very reluctant to insure. This needs to be pursued andan acceptable formula for crop damage insurance needs to be worked out.Paying compensation by government for damage caused to crops by wild animals such asthe elephant, wild pigs, or blackbuck, is very problematic and involves on spot inspectionand assessment of damage, to be done by the “lower” staff, and numerous complaints ofcorruption have occurred. . It was attempted in Meghalaya for two years, but was givenup for the expenses of almost 60 lakhs in compensation it was causing.132