Human-Elephant Conflict

GS 3 – ENVIRONMENT

Context: A recent study in Namibia emphasizes how dedicated water points and improved infrastructure can help alleviate human-elephant conflicts.

Approaches to Mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflicts:

  1. Separate Resource Zones:
    • Establish water points or dams specifically for wildlife, situated far from human settlements, to minimize encounters.
    • Example: Namibia’s National Elephant Conservation Plan includes wildlife-specific water dams to reduce conflicts.
  2. Infrastructure Improvements:
    • Strengthen water points with protective measures like reinforced walls, solar-powered pumps, and concrete dams to prevent damage by wildlife.
    • Example: Solar pump systems implemented in Namibia have significantly reduced damage caused by elephants to water infrastructure.
  3. Community Involvement:
    • Actively involve local communities in conservation efforts and monitoring, promoting shared responsibility and ownership.
    • Example: Namibia’s Community Conservation Programme, initiated in the 1990s, has successfully engaged locals in wildlife management.
  4. Buffer Zones and Barriers:
    • Develop buffer zones around villages using natural deterrents such as trenches or bio-fencing to keep wildlife at bay.
    • Example: Bio-fencing projects in Karnataka have proven effective in mitigating elephant conflicts.

Relevance to UPSC Exam Syllabus:

  1. GS Paper 3 – Environment:
    • Strategies for wildlife conservation and sustainable ecosystems.
    • Mitigating climate-related impacts on biodiversity.
  2. GS Paper 3 – Agriculture:
    • Impact of human-wildlife conflicts on rural livelihoods, including crop losses and economic challenges.
  3. Essay Writing:
    • Ethical and ecological considerations in human-animal coexistence.
  4. Case Studies in Ethics:
    • Examples of balancing conservation with development.
    • Role of local communities in fostering sustainable policies.

 

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