What is human-wildlife conflict?
Us humans have cut down too many jungles to develop them into cities for humans to stay in. As a result, the wild animals who lived in these forests have nowhere else to go. These hungry animals have no choice but to come looking for food where humans stay.
People try many things such as the use of traps, electric fences, shooting, etc. to protect themselves. When humans and animals hurt each other, it’s known as the human-wildlife conflict. In India, the human-wildlife conflict is on the rise and each year thousands of humans and animals get killed because of it.
How are some farmers exploring kinder ways of resolving this conflict?
Some farmers are using speakers that play roars of lions and tigers to keep monkeys away from their fruits. Others are using scarecrows that have blinking lights to scare deer away from their crops.
Some people in Assam have also installed electric fences to protect their crops from elephants. But these fences don’t hurt the elephants at all, they just scare them away.
Great, so why isn’t everyone using technology to solve the human-wildlife conflict?
These devices are very expensive. Most Indian farmers are poor and can’t buy such costly technology. Animals are also quite clever. Once they get used to the noise and sound, they aren’t afraid anymore. The technology has to be constantly updated with new noises and effects to keep scaring them.
So, what’s the solution?
There’s no single solution. A healthy planet needs both wildlife and humans. Governments and local communities have to work together to plan simple ways humans and animals can live side by side.
Any technology is expensive when it is new. Once people start using it for some time, the technology will become cheaper and more farmers will be able to buy it.
