Human-Wildlife Conflict in Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Kanchanpur, Nepal

Abstract

The thesis entitled “Human Wildlife Conflict in Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve Kanchanpur, Nepal” assessed various aspects of human-wildlife conflict in the buffer zone of Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. Specific objectives were to document distribution, types,intensity of damage, identification of wildlife pests, principal cause of conflict and value of damage.Three buffer zone committees like Shuklaphanta, Kalikich and Bageshwori buffer zone user committees from the northern and southern sites of the reserve were selected and ten plots of 10 x 10 m 2 were established (5 inside and 5 outside the reserve).Questionnaire surveys and interviews were conducted and data were collected during January 2012-November 2012. Data were analyzed using Ms Excel 2007, R-software and SPSS. Majhgaun and Jhilmila of Shuklaphanta and Kalikich respectively were the areas with higher wildlife damage. Crop raiding by wildlife was higher as compared to physical property damage, livestock killing, and human injuries. Frequency of chital (Axis axis)and porcupine (Hystrixindica)visiting to cropland was significantly different in northern and southern sites.Number of dungs and livestock did not differ significantly accordingly to sites and seasons.Altogether there were eight pest species including chital, wildboar (Sus scrofa), elephant(Elephas maximus), rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), monkey (Macacamulatta), porcupine,peacock (Pavo cristatus), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and three livestock predators including tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus) and jackal (Canis aureus).Among the pest species chital, wild boar and elephant were the most frequent crop raiders in each buffer community.Food deficiency, lack of fencing, increase in wildlife populations and deforestation were the major causes of conflict. The survey of 233 households showed that there was a total economic loss of Rs.11,92,335 in Shuklaphanta, Rs 7,02,510 in Kalikich and Rs.4,41,310 in Bageshwori. Wheat damage accounted the highest among the crops.Crop loss within sites was not significantly different. Human-wildlife conflict stillexists but types, intensity, wildlife species and crops vary spatially.