To understand what went wrong last year with so many attacks at aarey colony we decided to conduct a survey and figure out some facts and figures that may clear the blur picture of the causes of human wildlife conflict.On 19.1.2013 our team of 10 visited the red alert areas of Aarey colony for a survey
and interaction with the locals and residents of the area so as to get an idea of the
leopard issues faced by people in the area. We visited Maroshi Pada where two
leopard attacks on humans and five leopard trappings had taken place,
Khambachya Pada where one attack had taken place, and Vanichya Pada where one
attack had taken place in recent times.
In Maroshi Pada, we observed a change may be because of the awareness given to
the people by the rescue team and our team the area was much cleaner than before.
The area was well lit during the night and many new lights were added including
at the last house, where the attack on the 17 year old boy had taken place and was
the only house of the area on the top and most close to the forest too.
Mostly every second house had installed lights for their safety, had cleared the
excessive vegetation which had grown and could possibly be a hiding spot for the
leopards at night.
People had become more alert and were taking special care of their children and
live stock, which was a good sign.
The new toilet with a good capacity of users at a time is being constructed, which is
again a positive sign of the awareness programmes carried out there. But at the
same time a new area was flourishing so as to support for a new conflict. It was the
area next to Maroshi Pada and the ground opposite, where leopards are spotted
frequently. The main reason was garbage as we could see a very big and long patch
of unmanaged garbage. People of the adjoining pada (bangoda) not much
interested responding or listening to the awareness may be because nothing had
happened there , so we come across a common human tendency that not to react
unless there is a issue or something has happened , this lack of a proactive interest
in the issue could result in a complacency until a leopard attack occurs.
Important thing here is to look at the unmanaged garbage, as it attracts dogs in
large numbers , also the goats and cows are seen near it, Also to make people
participate and make them realise that it is in their hands to avoid potential conflict.
We also asked the people about the latest leopard spotting and its frequency which
had reduced but wildcats were spotted. However people said that they avoid
moving out in the night and most of the sightings were from inside their houses,
through the windows.
We then moved towards Khambachya Pada, where the latest of all attacks had
happened on a woman who had come to fill water at the above spot. This is the
only spot from where the people from more than 100 houses come to fill water as it
is the only source of fresh water. A need of bright light is really required at this spot
as even the leopards may come for water here plus while coming in the night to fill
water, because its late evening when water comes. There is no pipeline near that
place is the only spot from where fresh water is available, rest there are hand
pumps but that water cannot be used for drinking and cooking. I understood when
i spoke to a group of women who had come there to fill water when we were on the
spot.
In the above picture , we can see that there is too much of vegetation on both sides ,
more important near the toilet , which is required to be cleared from time to time
for a clear visibility, also lights are needed. (can the local youth be assisted to clear
the vegetation? becuase finally they have to take the issue up.) Any unpredictable
incident can cause a leopard attack and also many people may not prefer to use the
toilet at night because of darkness and try going to some other place and it is
observed that during the night dogs are seen companying the people , so there can
be an encounter with a leopard because of the dog.
There is also a hand pump and need of lights and clearing the vegetation near it is
important. The garbage accumulation is again a problem here as people are
allowing garbage to be accumulated near their houses as in the picture below.
There should be a lot of attention on this area as there is a cage installed here, at the
same time lights, garbage and unwanted or excessive vegetation is a platform for
the leopard conflict to happen here.
People have lost hope and are least interested in entertaining anybody, but we still
tried to talk and make them aware but they are over confident or can say a group of
leaders who are representative speakers, do not allow others to speak and only
raise the demanding issues.
We then proceeded towards Vanichya Pada, where we found that the houses are
nearby areas were clean , but at the same time the problem there was the
accumulation of garbage near the temporary toilets which are being used during
the night , here dogs can company humans at night and feed on or get attracted to
the garbage and then leopards can attack them or can mistake a human as prey
which is really possible.
At nights people don’t prefer going to the toilet that have been made and attend
natures call in this place, behind it we can see the garbage. We also told them to go
in pairs in the night so that one person is standing close to the person who is
squatting. The problem with the proper toilets is also like the previous one, there is
excessive vegetation around the area for the leopard to hide in.
The road is covered by garbage which is again a simple act that can lead to a
potential conflict.
There is a movie shooting set and a tabela (large cattle shed) and the whole road
which leads to a picnic point is highly polluted with garbage like plastic
plates ,alcohol bottles, wrappers, carry bags etc.
The following are issues if implemented could lead to lower conflict.
Lights
Garbage
Toilets
Excessive vegetation near houses and toilets
Understanding and making people aware
Dealing with the pressure groups
We tried telling the people that demanding for cages to be installed is not a
solution, the forest department is not the only department that is to be blamed, the
wildcats are not the trouble makers. Also tried telling them that being independent
in the matter of safety will keep them more safe rather than depending on someone
or some institution. some simple steps and practices can keep them more safe than
they are or they feel.
Soon our team will go for another follow up to the same areas.
and interaction with the locals and residents of the area so as to get an idea of the
leopard issues faced by people in the area. We visited Maroshi Pada where two
leopard attacks on humans and five leopard trappings had taken place,
Khambachya Pada where one attack had taken place, and Vanichya Pada where one
attack had taken place in recent times.
In Maroshi Pada, we observed a change may be because of the awareness given to
the people by the rescue team and our team the area was much cleaner than before.
The area was well lit during the night and many new lights were added including
at the last house, where the attack on the 17 year old boy had taken place and was
the only house of the area on the top and most close to the forest too.
Mostly every second house had installed lights for their safety, had cleared the
excessive vegetation which had grown and could possibly be a hiding spot for the
leopards at night.
People had become more alert and were taking special care of their children and
live stock, which was a good sign.
The new toilet with a good capacity of users at a time is being constructed, which is
again a positive sign of the awareness programmes carried out there. But at the
same time a new area was flourishing so as to support for a new conflict. It was the
area next to Maroshi Pada and the ground opposite, where leopards are spotted
frequently. The main reason was garbage as we could see a very big and long patch
of unmanaged garbage. People of the adjoining pada (bangoda) not much
interested responding or listening to the awareness may be because nothing had
happened there , so we come across a common human tendency that not to react
unless there is a issue or something has happened , this lack of a proactive interest
in the issue could result in a complacency until a leopard attack occurs.
Important thing here is to look at the unmanaged garbage, as it attracts dogs in
large numbers , also the goats and cows are seen near it, Also to make people
participate and make them realise that it is in their hands to avoid potential conflict.
We also asked the people about the latest leopard spotting and its frequency which
had reduced but wildcats were spotted. However people said that they avoid
moving out in the night and most of the sightings were from inside their houses,
through the windows.
We then moved towards Khambachya Pada, where the latest of all attacks had
happened on a woman who had come to fill water at the above spot. This is the
only spot from where the people from more than 100 houses come to fill water as it
is the only source of fresh water. A need of bright light is really required at this spot
as even the leopards may come for water here plus while coming in the night to fill
water, because its late evening when water comes. There is no pipeline near that
place is the only spot from where fresh water is available, rest there are hand
pumps but that water cannot be used for drinking and cooking. I understood when
i spoke to a group of women who had come there to fill water when we were on the
spot.
In the above picture , we can see that there is too much of vegetation on both sides ,
more important near the toilet , which is required to be cleared from time to time
for a clear visibility, also lights are needed. (can the local youth be assisted to clear
the vegetation? becuase finally they have to take the issue up.) Any unpredictable
incident can cause a leopard attack and also many people may not prefer to use the
toilet at night because of darkness and try going to some other place and it is
observed that during the night dogs are seen companying the people , so there can
be an encounter with a leopard because of the dog.
There is also a hand pump and need of lights and clearing the vegetation near it is
important. The garbage accumulation is again a problem here as people are
allowing garbage to be accumulated near their houses as in the picture below.
There should be a lot of attention on this area as there is a cage installed here, at the
same time lights, garbage and unwanted or excessive vegetation is a platform for
the leopard conflict to happen here.
People have lost hope and are least interested in entertaining anybody, but we still
tried to talk and make them aware but they are over confident or can say a group of
leaders who are representative speakers, do not allow others to speak and only
raise the demanding issues.
We then proceeded towards Vanichya Pada, where we found that the houses are
nearby areas were clean , but at the same time the problem there was the
accumulation of garbage near the temporary toilets which are being used during
the night , here dogs can company humans at night and feed on or get attracted to
the garbage and then leopards can attack them or can mistake a human as prey
which is really possible.
At nights people don’t prefer going to the toilet that have been made and attend
natures call in this place, behind it we can see the garbage. We also told them to go
in pairs in the night so that one person is standing close to the person who is
squatting. The problem with the proper toilets is also like the previous one, there is
excessive vegetation around the area for the leopard to hide in.
The road is covered by garbage which is again a simple act that can lead to a
potential conflict.
There is a movie shooting set and a tabela (large cattle shed) and the whole road
which leads to a picnic point is highly polluted with garbage like plastic
plates ,alcohol bottles, wrappers, carry bags etc.
The following are issues if implemented could lead to lower conflict.
Lights
Garbage
Toilets
Excessive vegetation near houses and toilets
Understanding and making people aware
Dealing with the pressure groups
We tried telling the people that demanding for cages to be installed is not a
solution, the forest department is not the only department that is to be blamed, the
wildcats are not the trouble makers. Also tried telling them that being independent
in the matter of safety will keep them more safe rather than depending on someone
or some institution. some simple steps and practices can keep them more safe than
they are or they feel.
Soon our team will go for another follow up to the same areas.
No comments:
Post a Comment