UNDERSTANDING STAKEHOLDERS PERCEPTION TOWARDS HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTION AND CONFLICT IN A TIGER LANDSCAPE-COMPLEX OF INDIA

Sripal, Ronak T

Publication:
UNDERSTANDING STAKEHOLDERS PERCEPTION TOWARDS HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTION AND CONFLICT IN A TIGER LANDSCAPE-COMPLEX OF INDIA

dc.contributor.advisor	Timothy O Randhir
dc.contributor.advisor	Todd K Fuller
dc.contributor.advisor	David V Bloniarz
dc.contributor.advisor	Andrew Stein
dc.contributor.author	Sripal, Ronak T
dc.contributor.department	University of Massachusetts Amherst
dc.contributor.department	Environmental Conservation
dc.date	2024-03-28T20:08:56.000
dc.date.accessioned	2024-04-26T18:17:54Z
dc.date.available	2024-04-26T18:17:54Z
dc.date.submitted	September
dc.date.submitted	2015
dc.description.abstract	Human-population of the earth exceeding 6 billion and growing at an estimates rate of 1.2% per year (US census Bureau, 2002) will lead to increase in human-wildlife encounters. Attacks on humans are perhaps the least understood of these encounters, but the most interesting and emotionally connected to people (Quigley Howard 2005). The main aim of the study if to understand stakeholders’ perception towards human-wildlife interaction and conflicts in Corbett National park, India. We used a standardized IRB (Institutional Review Board) approved questionnaire to survey 315 household from 15 villages lying within and around Corbett National Park of India using snow-ball technique and stratified random sampling technique.. We also surveyed and analyzed the head of the village, snow-ball technique and stratified random technique survey differently. We used multivariate regression analysis to understand the data obtained from questionnaire survey. Later, we also designed a conceptual model to understand factors influencing human-wildlife interaction; and an empirical model to identify factors affecting human-wildlife conflicts. The results of the study identified that most of the encounters with wildlife occurred while collecting timber or grass from forests. Wild pigs, elephants and cheetal are the species mainly responsible for crop-loss in our study area. Majority of the stakeholders were engaged in timber and grass collection from forested area. Multivariate regression results suggests that stakeholders whose farms were located far from highway, had good fencing and who had better socio-economic status faced least threat from wildlife with respect to crop-loss, livestock loss and human-life loss/injury. The simulation results of dynamic system experiment suggests that habitat loss and poaching play a very significant role in tiger population and its future. The study concludes that a holistic multi-disciplinary conservation approach is needed to address the increasing conflict issues in India. More emphases should be given on community based-conservation strategies and policies. Watch-towers, pits, solar-powered fencing are the best and most effective ways to keep wildlife away from damaging crops and killing livestock. Sustainable development and better higher education is the key to conserving tigers in India.
dc.description.degree	Master of Science (M.S.)
dc.identifier.doi	https://doi.org/10.7275/7533319
dc.identifier.orcid	N/A
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14394/33296
dc.relation.url	https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1319&context=masters_theses_2&unstamped=1
dc.source.status	published
dc.subject	Tiger
dc.subject	Stakeholder survey
dc.subject	Corbett National Park
dc.subject	Human-wildlife conflict
dc.subject	Livestock loss
dc.subject	Crop loss
dc.title	UNDERSTANDING STAKEHOLDERS PERCEPTION TOWARDS HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTION AND CONFLICT IN A TIGER LANDSCAPE-COMPLEX OF INDIA
dc.type	openaccess
dc.type	article
dc.type	thesis
digcom.contributor.author	isAuthorOfPublication\|email:sripalronak@gmail.com\|institution:University of Massachusetts Amherst\|Sripal, Ronak T
digcom.identifier	masters_theses_2/298
digcom.identifier.contextkey	7533319
digcom.identifier.submissionpath	masters_theses_2/298
dspace.entity.type	Publication