Nagpur: exactly a year ago when the country celebrated the International Tiger Day, the number of big cats had reported an increase from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018.
But everything was not good that the tiger had faced one of the biggest threats from human conflict -manal.
The numbers speak for themselves in Maharashtra who staggered under the worst human-animal conflict.
Since January 1, 2021, the state has recorded 44 human deaths.
The state has recorded 88 deaths in 2020.
Of the 44 human deaths this year, Chandrapur-Gadchiroli Regency alone has recorded 34 (93%) by tigers and leopards.
“In the Chandrapur district, 31 deaths were reported in just seven months.
This is close to 33 deaths recorded throughout 2020.
We cannot rule out more accidents like that until the end of the year,” said the Head of the NR Praveen Forest Conservator (CCF).
In accordance with the All India Tiger & Leopard Estimation-2018, the Tiger number in Maharashtra has increased from 190 in 2014 to 312 in 2018 and 350 now.
Likewise, the leopard number has increased to 1,690, which is the third largest in the country.
Therefore, the action plan is needed to contain conflict.
Human-animal conflicts always create political storms.
Since 2013, the government has subsequently formed at least three expert committees and high-level senior officials to overcome the problems and retaliation of plants by wildlife.
According to Bandu Dhotre, a member of the wildlife council, a member of the latest wildlife council (SWBL) has submitted a report earlier this year “but the action is awaiting all these reports”.
“It’s time the government implements recommendations to save wildlife species,” he said.
Suresh Chopne, President, Green Planet Society, Chandrapur, warned that the conflict of wildlife often leads to people who kill animals in self-defense or in retaliation, who can drive tigers and leopards.
Even the latest reports by WWF & UNEP released on July 8 warned: “India faces increasing challenges from the conflict of wildlife, which is driven by development pressure.
With the second largest human population in the world along with the largest tiger wild population, Asian elephants, rhinos Horned one, asiatic lion, and other globally threatened species, India faces urgent problems that must be aimed at achieving a socially fair conservation form..
“In the direction of the NBWL fixed committee, two high-level committees under the Secretary of the Head in the State Country and One under the district collector has been established in May 2021 to see conflict, plant damage, kill livestock, and suggest steps.
This seems to have been done to find better coordination between all departments.
However, these panels are only on paper.
Senior forest officials recognize that police restrictions, they do not get much needed support from other departments.
Recognizing the increase in conflict, PCCF (wildlife) Sunil Limaye said that it was because humans explore wild regions.
“Handling human-animal conflicts is not the work of the Ministry of Forestry.
We need cooperation from other departments too,” he said.
The Limaye StatD which reports from both committees will be placed before SBWL for immediate approval.
“Even if the report is waiting, the locals are being mobilized by building capacity and winning their trust with timely compensation,” he said.
PCCF (Budget) Pradeep Kumar said that more than RS 29 Crore that must be paid for conflict compensation that until last month, RS20 Crore has been released and plans are being carried out to make the corpus from RS30 Crore.
Wildlife Conservationist & Satpuda Foundation Chief Kishor Rithe felt that linear projects existed and proposed such as trains, highways, canals, and transmission trips would continue to cause problems to spread the population of wild animals.
According to Rithe, encroachment of the tiger habitat has become a serious problem in the last five years.
“There is a massive encroachment recorded in the habitat of tigers and satellite images and Pors of the Department of Forest (initial violation report) together have proven that they use forest rights laws (FRA) as a shield.
In 2013, our committee on plant damage By wildlife has made several recommendations but this will still be implemented, “he said.
Wildlife fans Dr.
Jerryl Banait said that tiger conservation must come at the level of policy making.