Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC): Definition, Situation in India, Causes, Impacts, and More

Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is emerging as a major challenge worldwide for biodiversity conservation, human safety, and economic stability. In a biodiversity-rich country like India, where millions of people live near forested areas, incidents of HWC are on the rise.

What is Human–Wildlife Conflict ?

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): HWC occurs when interactions between humans and wildlife produce negative outcomes, such as:

• Loss of human life
• Damage to property or crops
• Killing of livestock
• Wildlife entering human settlements

Examples:

• In 2024, wolves attacked several children in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh.
• Elephants, leopards, tigers, monkeys, and nilgai damaging crops, homes, or livestock.

Situation of HWC in India

• In India, HWC mainly involves species like elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, monkeys, nilgai, and wolves.
• In 2022, 1,510 human deaths occurred due to wildlife attacks (Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India – 2022).
• Kerala recently declared HWC a state-specific disaster.
• Addressing HWC is primarily the responsibility of state and union territory governments.

Major Causes of HWC

(A) Ecological Causes

• Climate change / Seasonal variation: Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns force wildlife into new areas.
• Extreme weather events: For example, melting Arctic ice has increased human–polar bear conflicts.
• Habitat fragmentation: Disruption and shrinking of wildlife habitats.

(B) Anthropogenic / Human-Induced Causes

• Land-use changes, urbanization, and illegal encroachment.
• Expansion of agriculture and attraction of crops to wildlife.
• Conservation success increasing wildlife populations (e.g., tiger populations in Sundarbans reaching carrying capacity).

(C) Wildlife-Induced Causes

• Changes in animals’ life cycles (reproduction, foraging strategies).
• Altered migration patterns.
• Limited ability to adapt to new landscapes.

Impacts of HWC

1. Social / Psychological Impacts

• Fear, stress, and uncertainty
• Mental trauma in forest-adjacent communities

2. Economic Impacts

• Crop losses
• Livestock predation → financial losses
• Retaliatory killings of wildlife → adverse effects on biodiversity

3. Health Impacts

• Spread of zoonotic diseases (e.g., Nipah virus)

4. Ecological Impacts

• Disruption of predator-prey balance
• Habitat shrinkage due to human activity → threat to endangered species

Legal and Policy Framework

(A) Constitutional Provisions

• Forests and wildlife fall under the Concurrent List (List III) → responsibility shared by central and state governments

(B) Major Laws

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
  • Protection of wildlife, plants, and habitats
  • Establishment of protected areas (PAs)
  • Strict penalties for offenses

(C) Policy Initiatives

1. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for HWC:
   • Human–Elephant Conflict
   • Human–Tiger Conflict
   • Human–Leopard Conflict
2. National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) 2017–2035
3. National Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (2021–26)

Recent Technical and Behavioral Interventions

• Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant–Human Attacks Using Bees): Using beehives to keep elephants away from villages.
• GPS Collaring: Monitoring movements of elephants and tigers.
• Digital Databases: Hotspot mapping of conflict zones.
• Solar fencing / physical barriers: Crop protection
• Early-warning systems: SMS or app-based alerts

Way Forward

1. Science-Based Management
   • NWAP 2017–2035 emphasizes species-specific and region-specific strategies.
   • Scientific assessment of carrying capacity.
2. Community Participation
   • Leveraging local and tribal knowledge
   • Role of eco-development committees
   • Transparent crop compensation and insurance mechanisms
3. Technological Solutions
   • Drone-based monitoring
   • Smart fencing
   • Availability of hospitals and rescue centers
4. Better Land-Use Planning
   • Restoration of wildlife corridors
   • Scientific evaluation of urban and industrial expansion
5. Education and Awareness
   • HWC training in schools and panchayats
   • Practical guidelines for communities

Conclusion

Human–Wildlife Conflict is not limited to forest-adjacent communities. It is a multi-dimensional issue affecting India’s biodiversity, food security, economic stability, and public health. Effective mitigation requires a combination of:

• • Legal frameworks
  • Technological innovation
  • Community engagement
  • Scientific management

Reducing HWC can significantly contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG-13 (Climate Action) and SDG-15 (Life on Land).