Human-Rhino Conflict in Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park, Nepal: A Case Study from Madi Valley

Abstract

Agricultural crop and livestock depredation by wildlife results in disputes between the park authorities and the local people. Human–rhino conflict poses a serious threat to rhino conservation in many parts of Asia including Nepal. The study entitled “Human-Rhino Conflict in Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park, Nepal: A Case Study of Madi Valley” was carried out between July to October, 2008 to assess the causes and extent of human-rhino conflict in Mandi valley adjacent to Chitwan national park. The questionnaire survey of 222 households and key informant interviews were used to assess the level human- rhino conflict in Madi valley. Compensation claim against the human harassment by rhino were collected from park head quarter and analyzed. A total of 50 quadrates of the size 1x1 m2 and 24 quadrates of 20x20 m2 were used for vegetation analysis in the grassland and forest respectively in the rhino habitat. . The Total crop loss per household was NRS 12, 474.93 (paddy 649.15 kg accounts NRS 9088.12,maize 125.26 kg accounts NRS 1753.68, lentil 8.47kg accounts NRS 466.22, mustard 6.52kg accounts NRS 359.40 and wheat 16.26kg accounts NRS 292.82), NRS 10,516.79 (paddy 613.52 kg accounts NRS 8589.36,maize 19.45 kg accounts NRS 272.41, lentil 3.83kg accounts NRS 210.67, mustard 2.69 kg accounts NRS 148.10 and wheat 72.01 kg accounts NRS 1296.25), NRS 7896.43 (paddy 270.72 kg accounts NRS 3790.08,maize 28.53 kg accounts NRS 399.53, lentil 3.88kg accounts NRS 213.84, mustard 4.70kg accounts NRS 258.81 and wheat 50.23kg accounts NRS 904.17) and NRS 7,000.76(paddy 467.78 kg accounts NRS 6548.97,maize 25.66 kg accounts NRS 359.35, lentil 0.28kg accounts NRS 15.84, mustard 0.06 kg accounts NRS 3.36 and wheat 4.65 kg accounts NRS 76.60) in Gardi, Kalyanpur, Bagauda and Ayodhyapuri VDC respectively. A total of 7 killings and 9 injuries have been recorded during the year 2008. Among those west and south sector of CNP are highly vulnerable for conflict between human and rhino. Relative frequencies of preferred species of rhino were Saccharam spontaenium (16%), Trewia nudiflora (8.33%) and Narenga porphyrocoma (10%). An alien species Mikania mikarantha (18%) was found in the habitat. The effective management for alien species like Mikania mikarantha inside the park seems very essential and the management of problem of human harassment, injuries and killing outside the park or in the settlements and cropfield