Ashraf Shaikh
Globally, humans and large carnivores such as tigers and leopards are often found in close proximity to each other and there is increasing evidence that these animals are thriving in multi-use, human-dominated landscapes, particularly those adjacent to protected areas (PAs). This spatial overlap between people and large carnivores increases the interface between the two resulting in a plethora of interactions ranging from positive to negative. Among these interactions, often the negative ones are given more attention and priority by forest administrators, researchers and conservationists. These negative interactions are eventually termed as ‘conflict’ but something that is systematically neglected is whether the people, who share space and resources with these carnivores, themselves view and perceive the interactions as ‘conflict’. This is crucial in understanding the nature and perception of these ‘conflictual’ interactions and how they influence the relationship between people and wildlife.
The Greater Tadoba Landscape illustrates the importance of considering tigers as a metapopulation within a larger landscape. The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve is known for its high tiger population. However, surrounding forest areas like Bramhapuri and Central Chanda play a crucial role in tiger-population dynamics within TATR. Resident breeding populations of tigers are supported by these adjacent forest blocks outside of Protected Areas, and tigers disperse to TATR from these forest blocks. Hence, it is of utmost importance to understand the dynamics between tigers and the communities living in these divisions to develop inclusive strategies to facilitate undisturbed tiger movement but also in minimizing loss to human property and life.
We will conduct semi-structured interviews with various categories of people in the landscape which includes tiger attack victims and/or their families in case of deceased victims, tribal communities and other forest dwelling communities, migrant/settler communities and the forest department staff. This will give us insights about the way different communities in the landscape perceive, interact and respond to tigers in the shared space.
This study will help researchers and forest managers in understanding the various dimensions of human-tiger interactions and coexistence and to assess the perceptions of the communities towards the tiger, its growing numbers and their interactions with it. The study’s findings will inform the forest department in developing and implementing effective strategies and guidelines for both forest staff and local communities in preventing and mitigating tiger attacks on humans. Local & regional NGOs can use the identified factors in developing community awareness programs and foster community-based conservation initiatives to promote understanding and coexistence. This study would be a foundation for further research on the ecological and socio-economic drivers of tiger attacks on humans.