Human-wildlife conflict at high altitude: A case from Gaurishankar conservation area, Nepal.

Autor: Pathak A; Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Babarmahal, Kathmandu Nepal.; Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences University of California San Diego California USA., Lamichhane S; Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA., Dhakal M; Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Babarmahal, Kathmandu Nepal., Karki A; Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Babarmahal, Kathmandu Nepal.; Department of Zoology and Physiology, Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA., Dhakal BK; Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Babarmahal, Kathmandu Nepal., Chetri M; Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project, Head Office Singati, Dolakha Nepal., Mintz J; Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA., Pun P; Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Babarmahal, Kathmandu Nepal., Neupane P; Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Babarmahal, Kathmandu Nepal., Dahal TP; Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project, Head Office Singati, Dolakha Nepal., Rayamajhi T; Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Cornell University Ithaca New York USA., Paudel P; Central Department of Zoology Tribhuwan University Kritipur Nepal., Thapa A; Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Babarmahal, Kathmandu Nepal., Regmi PR; Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project, Head Office Singati, Dolakha Nepal., Thami S; Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project, Head Office Singati, Dolakha Nepal., Thapa G; Division Forest Office Charikot, Dolakha Nepal., Khanal S; Kathmandu Forestry College Koteshwor, Kathmandu Nepal., Lama S; Kathmandu Forestry College Koteshwor, Kathmandu Nepal., Karki J; Kathmandu Forestry College Koteshwor, Kathmandu Nepal., Khanal S; Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Hariyokharka Pokhara Nepal., Ferdin AEJ; Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography National Dong Hwa University Hualien Taiwan.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Ecology and evolution [Ecol Evol] 2024 Jul 08; Vol. 14 (7), pp. e11685. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 08 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11685
Abstrakt: Human-wildlife conflict studies of high-altitude areas are rare due to budget constraints and the challenging nature of research in these remote environments. This study investigates the prevalence and increasing trend of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in the mountainous Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA) of Nepal, with a specific focus on leopard ( Panthera pardus ) and Himalayan black bear ( Ursus thibetanus laniger ). The study analyzes a decade of HWC reports and identifies goats as the livestock most targeted by leopards. The Dolakha district of GCA received the highest number of reports, highlighting the need for mitigation measures in the area. In GCA, livestock attacks accounted for 85% of compensation, with the remaining 15% for human injuries. We estimate that the number of reported wildlife attacks grew on average by 33% per year, with an additional increase of 57 reports per year following the implementation of a new compensation policy during BS 2076 (2019 AD). While bear attacks showed no significant change post-rule alteration, leopard attack reports surged from 1 to 60 annually, indicating improved compensation may have resulted in increased leopard-attack reporting rates. The findings emphasize the economic impact of HWC on local communities and suggest strategies such as increasing prey populations, promoting community education and awareness, enhancing alternative livelihood options, developing community-based insurance programs, and implementing secure enclosures (corrals) to minimize conflicts and foster harmonious coexistence. This research addresses a knowledge gap in HWC in high-altitude conservation areas like the GCA, providing valuable insights for conservation stakeholders and contributing to biodiversity conservation and the well-being of humans and wildlife.
Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest.
(© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: