CONSERVATION CHALLENGES

The challenges to conservation of large mammals in a developing country like India are complex. The needs of a burgeoning human population and the consequent growth of the market where India has become part of the expanding global economy has been at the centre of conservation problems of our country. The protected wildlife areas constitute a mere 3% of the total land mass with ever-increasing pressure on this fragmented landscape. Any further exploitation of the last remaining bits of protected areas to meet human and development needs, which in any event need to be met by using 97% of the landscape, will surely lead to the decimation of large mammal assemblages.

Conservation of large mammals in India is beset with serious problems such as habitat loss, fragmentation of forests, illegal hunting, commercial exploitation of forest products, livestock grazing, forest fires, unscientific management practises and ignorance of the need for wildlife conservation. All these have together contributed to the decline of wildlife and forests, which therefore need to be understood in this context.

The challenges:
>> Progressive loss of habitat including fragmentation
>> Illegal hunting and wildlife trade
>> Commercial exploitation of forests
>> Removal of dead and fallen trees
>> Collection of minor forest produce
>> Livestock grazing
>> Fire
>> Unscientific management practices