As Summer Arrives, Human-Wildlife Conflicts Rise

In Kerala: Wild Animals Start Migrating From Mudumalai, Bandipur & Anamalai, Causing Territorial Conflict

- Manoj Viswanathan @ Kochi

With the arrival of summer, the forest fringes in Kerala have turned conflict zones. As temperatures rise and streams in the forest start shrinking, wild animals are forced to enter human habitations in search of food and water. Adding to the pressure on the forest staff, wild animals have started migrating from Mudumalai, Bandipur and Anamalai, causing territorial conflict.

Concerned over the increasing human-wildlife conflict, the forest department has launched an initiative to develop a comprehensive reduction and mitigation plan. Forest staff have been directed to identify, prioritize and describe the key wildlife species involved in conflicts, emphasizing their behaviour, movement patterns and impact on human settlements.