A future for all the need for human-wildlife coexistence Report
Recently, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) published a report titled ‘A future for all – the need for human-wildlife coexistence’.
Key Point
- According to a report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), conflict between humans and animals is one of the main threats to the long-term survival of some of the world’s most iconic species.
- More than 500 elephants were killed in India during 2014-2019, with human-elephant conflict responsible for most of the deaths.
- This is because India is home to the world’s second largest human population, as well as large population of tigers, Asian elephants, one-horned rhinos, Asiatic lions, and other species.
- According to the report, India will be most affected by the human-wildlife conflict.
- Elephants of India are confined to only 3-4 percent of their native habitat. This prompts wildlife to seek food outside protected areas, leading to conflict with humans.
- It is not possible to completely eliminate human-wildlife conflict, but conflicts can be reduced by adopting a well-planned and integrated approach to manage it.
- The report cited the example of Assam’s Sonitpur district, where the destruction of forests forced elephants to migrate to crops. Both elephants and humans have died in this.
- In response to this, WWF-India developed the ‘Sonitpur Model’ during the year 2003-2004. Under this, community members were trained to work with the state forest department to drive the elephants away from the fields safely.
Source – The Hindu
