Some Aspects of Feline-Human Conflict in India

Abstract

India is inhabited by five species under the subfamily Felinae of the family Felidae, namely, Panthera tigris, Panthera pardus, Panthera leo, Neofelis nebulosa and Uncia uncia. All of them are listed under Schedule I in Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Moreover, of the nine species of felids facing greatest conservation signifance on account of human conflict in the world, four are found in India (lion, leopard, snow leopard and tiger). About 1.21 billion people inhabit India with a density of 382 persons per sq km having a growing developmental trend. As per Environment and Forests statistics 51 tigers were killed in 2011 and, on an average, 60 people are killed annually by tigers revealing some tiger-human conflict in India. In this context this article aims to deal with some aspects of human-feline conflict and their likely solutions.