Coexisting With Large Carnivores: A Case Study From Western Duars, India

Abstract

This article sought to understand the human–leopard conflict scenario in the western Duars region of northern West Bengal. We found human depredation levels by leopards have increased by 65% from 2001 to 2008. Tea estates adjoining the forested areas were identified as conflict hotspots. We found a significant increase in human depredation levels in the tea estates adjoining Gorumara National Park (GNP) from 2005 to 2007, following the release of a large number of rescued leopards into GNP during 2005–06. This may indicate that translocation of “problem” leopards into forests have increased conflict in adjoining areas. Monitoring captured leopards after relocation can confirm this. Most locals felt fear and hatred toward leopards. The local communities need to be involved while framing management guidelines. Existing short-term mitigation strategies like compensation must be supplemented with long-term strategies like habitat restoration, and better livestock guarding techniques. Alternate strategies like incentive programs should be explored.

Keywords:

• Panthera pardus
• conflict
• translocation
• conflict hotspots
• local perceptions

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by financial aid from Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science, and technical support from the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF).

We thank the West Bengal State Forest Department for facilitating this study. We are grateful to Dr. R. Sukumar and Mr. Thomas Mathew for their valuable support and guidance. We acknowledge Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) for providing part financial support to A. Bhattacharjee and the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF) for technical support. We are grateful to all staff at the CES field station at North Bengal for their valuable help during the field work. We thank Dr. Jerry Vaske and two anonymous reviewers who reviewed the article.