Forest Minister attributes human-animal conflicts to increase in animal population

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre attributed the increase in the human-animal conflict in recent years to the increase in animal population.

Answering a question by D. Thimmaiah in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, Mr. Khandre said after the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, came into effect, the hunting of animals was stopped. Gradually the number of animals increased.

Karnataka stands first in the country considering the elephant population (6395) and second in terms of tiger population. As per the tiger census conducted in 2022, the tiger population was 563 in the State.

Numbers higher

“But, when analysed again after the recent incidents of human-tiger conflicts, we understood that the number has gone up to 600 in the State. In the year 1972, the number of tigers in Bandipur was only 12. During our last census the number was 150 and now it has gone to 200,” he stated.

The Bandipur National Park is spread over 1,000 sq. km. “I had asked the officers to study the carrying capacity of the park. According to an estimation, a tiger needs an area of 11 to 12 sq. km. Going by the land available, the park could accommodate around 100-110 tigers. But the current population is around 200, initiating territorial fights among them. We have also studied the population of mammals like deer that tigers require to survive. There is no shortage of such animals,” he said.

The Minister said every year on an average 40-50 human deaths are reported in human-animal conflicts.