{"id":89515,"date":"2024-02-22T19:55:34","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T14:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=editorial-analysis&#038;p=89515"},"modified":"2025-02-13T11:17:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T05:47:39","slug":"rising-human-animal-conflict","status":"publish","type":"editorial-analysis","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/rising-human-animal-conflict","title":{"rendered":"Rising Human Wildlife Conflict in the Southern Western Ghats"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Context:\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>This editorial is based on the news \u201c<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/collapse-of-the-ecological-balance-and-an-undeclared-war-with-nature\/article67870645.ece#:~:text=Over%20the%20period%20from%202017,%2C%20property%2C%20and%20crop%20loss.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>Collapse of the ecological balance and an undeclared war with nature<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d <\/span><b>which was published in the Hindu.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wayanad is in a state of undeclared war as seen with the<\/span><b> rising human wildlife conflict in the district.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100.301%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Relevancy for Prelims:<\/b> <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/madhav-gadgil-report-on-conserving-the-western-ghats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Western Ghats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/human-animal-conflict\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Human Wildlife Conflict<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/environment-ecology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Environment &#038; Ecology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/protected-area-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protected Areas In India<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Relevancy for Mains: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rising Human Wildlife Conflicts: Recent Accidents, Statistics, and Impact on Environment &#038; Ecology.<\/span><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Recent Human Elephant Conflicts in Wayanad, Kerala\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tragic Events in Kerala: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two recent tragic events have triggered protests, strikes and has led to a political unrest\u00a0 in Kerala.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a recent incident, a wild elephant named Belur Makhna, went on a rampage, crushing a 47-year-old farmer to death.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was followed by another incident where an elephant herd attacked and killed an ecotourism guide at Kuruvadweep Islands.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Impact of Ecological Fragmentation on Wildlife:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This indicates the significant loss of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/ecology-and-society\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ecological connectivity and habitat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the resultant confinement of wildlife to fragmented forests forcing their raids to the surrounding areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Rising Human Wildlife Conflict: Current Statistics<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Deaths due to Human Wildlife Conflict: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Wayanad, 51 human deaths have been documented due to wildlife attacks during the last 10 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This number surged to a total of 98 fatalities, encompassing 8,873 attack incidents in the fiscal year 2022-23, with 27 of those deaths attributed to elephant attacks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Impact on Agriculture Sector:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These attacks have inflicted significant damage on Kerala&#8217;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/agriculture-startup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agriculture sector<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Elephant Corridor: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/elephant-corridors\/#:~:text=What%20is%20an%20elephant%20corridor,total%20corridors%2C%20the%20report%20said.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elephant Corridors of India<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, surveyed by the Wildlife Trust of India in 2005, identified 88 elephant corridors.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the findings, 24% of these corridors were located within reserve forests, while the <\/span><b>remaining 76% traversed through a mix of forested areas, agricultural lands, tea plantations, and human settlements.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Crisis in Ecosystem Services<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Impact of Monoculture and Chemical Usage: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The trend of monoculture plantations, usage of pesticides and insecticides depleted the soil.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This disturbance was evident in the diminished yield of cash crops and diseases, gradually impacting the plantations despite favorable market prices, of late.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-89773\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-21-65d84eb0f202f.webp\" alt=\"Human Wildlife Conflict\" width=\"502\" height=\"157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-21-65d84eb0f202f.webp 1000w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-21-65d84eb0f202f-300x94.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-21-65d84eb0f202f-768x240.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 502px) 100vw, 502px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Increased human activities and the degradation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Plantation of foreign trees like eucalyptus and acacia have denied food and water for the wild animals leading to the evacuation of animals from the forest areas as the interiors are turning to barren lands.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, 36,000 hectares out of the 1 lakh hectares of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/forest-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wayanad forests<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are monoculture plantations such as eucalyptus.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-89772\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-20-65d84eb1de8c6.webp\" alt=\"Human Wildlife Conflict\" width=\"450\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-20-65d84eb1de8c6.webp 800w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-20-65d84eb1de8c6-300x183.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-20-65d84eb1de8c6-768x469.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Impact of Tourism: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uncontrolled ecotourism, contributing to the issues of cattle grazing, invasive plants, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/wildfires-in-canada-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forest fires<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> destroying wildlife habitats wherein they are expected to protect and enhance the quality of forest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Operation Jumbo Parade:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It captured nine elephants and two were released to Kerala with radio collars installed, without adequate surveillance and watchers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enhancing government Support:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The government needs to extend its efforts to ensure proper monitoring, continuous conservation, and public awareness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Need for Statutory Body:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A statutory body is required to coordinate the forest issues spread across the three South Indian states under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enforcement of FCA: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/forest-conservation-act-2023\/#:~:text=The%20Act%20seeks%20to%20redefine,inhabited%20by%20vulnerable%20tribal%20groups.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forest Conservation Act (FCA)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should be strictly enforced with a Free and Prior Informed consent (FPIC) principle which is widely recognized as a critical process of stakeholder engagement to prevent further degradation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it is high time for the Kerala Forest Department to <\/span><b>act responsibly, implement effective strategies to protect and revive the forests in the state,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> we should also<\/span><b> collectively understand that in a war with nature, no human would survive.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span class=\"vc_button\"><b>Also Read: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/farmers-unjustified-demands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farmers Protest 2.0: Are Farmers Demands Unjustified?<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.222%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Prelims PYQ (2023):\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Consider the following statements:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">1. Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">2. Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">3. Seshachalam Hills Constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">How many of the statements given above the correct?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">(a) Only one<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">(b) Only two\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">(c) All three<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">(d) None<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Ans: (d)<\/b><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.201%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Mains Question:<\/b> <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/why-is-human-wildlife-conflict-on-the-rise-what-solutions-are-there-to-help-humans-and-wildlife-coexist-10-marks-150-words\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is human wildlife conflict on the rise? What solutions are there to help humans and wildlife coexist?<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (10 marks, 150 words)<\/span><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.327%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 36px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 1710.72%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 36px;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 54.4983%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NCERT Notes For UPSC<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 1656.22%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/daily-current-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Daily Current Affairs<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 54.4983%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Blogs<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 1656.22%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Daily Editorials<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 54.4983%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 1656.22%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Main Answer Writing<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 54.4983%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-previous-year-papers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 1656.22%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-test-series-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Test Series 2024<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wayanad is in a state of undeclared war as seen with the rising human wildlife conflict in the district.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":89786,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2089],"subject":[4642],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/89515"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/editorial-analysis"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89515"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/89515\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89791,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/89515\/revisions\/89791"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89515"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=89515"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=89515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}