The Kerala Forest Department is working to combine cutting-edge technologies with traditional knowledge to manage human-wildlife conflict in the state more effectively.

Key points: 

• The initiative includes the installation of AI-based alert systems for real-time updates, drones equipped with thermal sensors, and camera traps to improve surveillance along forest borders. 

• Solar street lights and high-mast lights will be installed to monitor wildlife from a safe distance and prevent conflicts.

• The plan outlines 17 strategies to be executed over three years, funded through Central-State allocations and schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

• The state government has approved a comprehensive master plan with projects amounting to Rs 645 crore to address a crisis recently declared a state-specific disaster.

Cutting-edge technology

• The definition of cutting-edge technology is a technology with the latest features and capabilities. 

• It is best-in-class, industry-leading technology that innovates and pushes the boundaries of current knowledge.

• This can encompass various fields such as information technology, biotechnology, robotics, artificial intelligence, and more. 

Cutting-edge technology is characterised by:

• Innovation: Introduction of new ideas, methods, or devices that significantly improve or revolutionise existing processes or products.

• Advanced Features: Incorporation of the latest advancements and sophisticated functionalities that outperform older technologies.

• High Efficiency: Enhanced performance, speed, and efficiency compared to previous technologies.

• Early Adoption: Often adopted first by industries or individuals seeking to maintain a competitive edge or lead in their field.

• Potential for Disruption: The capability to disrupt existing markets or create entirely new ones.

Why is human-wildlife conflict on the rise?

• As human populations and demand for space continue to grow, people and wildlife are increasingly interacting and competing for resources, which can lead to increased human-wildlife conflict. 

• Along with other threats, human-wildlife conflict has driven the decline of once-abundant species and is pushing others to the brink of extinction. But the human-wildlife conflict issue has far-reaching impacts beyond the wildlife and communities immediately affected by it. 

• With human-wildlife conflict centered around the interaction between wildlife and humans, human-wildlife coexistence is strongly linked and important to sustainable development activities.

Implications of human-animal conflict

• Impact on Livelihoods: Significant economic losses for farmers and livestock herders due to crop destruction, infrastructure damage, and livestock killings by wild animals, leading to financial hardship.

• Human Safety Concerns: Wild animals, particularly large predators like lions, tigers, and bears, can pose serious threats, potentially causing severe injuries or fatalities.

• Ecological Imbalances: Killing predators to prevent conflicts can lead to overpopulation of prey species, causing ecological imbalances.

• Negative Perceptions: Human-animal conflict can foster negative perceptions of wildlife, complicating conservation efforts and implementation of protective measures.

• Mental Health Issues: Victims of human-animal conflict may experience fear, anxiety, and trauma, affecting their psychological well-being.

Strategies to mitigate human-animal conflict

• Natural Habitat Protection: Protect and restore wildlife habitats to reduce encroachment into human settlements.

• Wildlife Corridors: Create wildlife corridors and establish protected areas.

• Sustainable Land-Use: Implement sustainable land-use practices to balance human needs with wildlife conservation.

• Fencing and Scare Devices: Use fencing, scare devices, and crop diversification techniques to protect crops from wildlife damage.

• Community Alerts: Develop and deploy systems to alert communities about nearby wildlife, preventing conflicts and enhancing safety.

• Awareness and Training: Educate communities on coexisting with wildlife, raise awareness about conservation importance, and provide conflict resolution training.

• Response Teams: Establish wildlife conflict response teams or hotlines for timely intervention and conflict minimisation.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)