Chennai: With four tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu spread over six districts receiving a deficit rainfall of more than 60 percent, foresters in the state are fearing an increase in man- animal conflicts in districts that support wildlife.
According to Indian meteorological department weather bulletin, the entire state of Tamil Nadu for the month of October and November third week has received a deficit rainfall of 70 per cent when compared to the normal rainfall expected during the northeast monsoon.
Wildlife rangers serving in all the districts, including Erode, Krishnagiri, Theni, Coimbatore, Nilgiris and Tirunelveli that covers four tiger reserves (Sathyamangalam, Mudumalai, Anamalai and Kalakad-Mundanthurai tiger reserves have conformed to the forest headquarters in Chennai about the decrease in annual rainfall and are now working on mitigation to prevent man-animal conflict.
“For the year 2017, an outlay of Rs 17 crore is already earmarked to prevent the human – animal conflict and this includes the compensation for the deceased in wildlife encounters”, said a top forest official, adding that elephants account for the maximum death of human lives, followed by other wild animals including leopard and bear. For the past two years about 20 to 30 cases of animal-human conflicts are reported in TN including about a dozen cases of human deaths.
“The catchment areas of Sathyamangalam and Anamalai have received very minimal rainfall and we are expecting the movement of jumbos and other large mammals to water hole areas and this could lead to stray of animals into buffer zones”, opined conservation scientist A Kumaraguru, member, Sathyamangalam Tiger Foundation.
There is a need for more understanding of wildlife management and the public’s lack awareness on conservation. The conflict can be minimised only by minimising the biotic pressure on forests and by educating the people to stay away from wildlife, he added.
“Valparai, Mudumalai, Hasanur, Bhavani, Thimbam, Sathy are the areas that are under surveillance and the conflicts are something common in these areas. Last year there was not many stray incidents with the reserves receiving adequate rainfall and this year we are worried”, said a forest official based in Coimbatore circle.
