Human-Wildlife Conflict Intensifies in Nepal's Hills

Some MPs from parliament gave the government an ultimatum to solve the monkey problem. The problem of monkeys is causing villages to become empty and the suffering of farmers is widely reported in the media. This is not a new issue. This problem has become more complex in the last decade.

This issue was previously limited to the local and district levels, up to the District Forest and Administration. It has now entered parliament. Shortly after Balen Shah became Prime Minister, MPs drew the government's attention to this issue during provincial discussions. In the current session of parliament, some MPs raised the issue of the need for a clear government policy to solve the monkey problem.

Human-wildlife conflict is defined as the struggle between humans and wildlife as they fulfill their needs and expand their territories. Human-wildlife conflict is not a new issue. Conflict has existed between these two parties since the development of human civilization. Given the current development model and the current state of natural resource exploitation, this conflict is almost certain to increase in the coming days.

Nepal is a country rich in biodiversity. Coexistence between humans and wildlife has historically existed here. However, in recent years, human-wildlife conflict has emerged as a serious social, economic, and environmental problem. Especially in the hilly regions, wild animals such as monkeys, birds, civets, deer, leopards, bears, and wild boars are causing significant damage to agriculture. As a result, people are migrating from villages, arable land is lying fallow, and gradually the fields are turning into forests.

The question of why and how human-wildlife conflict, which has become a topic of discussion from villages to parliament, has increased is important. Human-wildlife conflict is mainly seen in two ways. First, the damage caused by humans to wildlife, and second, the damage caused by wildlife to human-created property.

As human population and needs increased, human interference in the natural habitat of wildlife increased. Deforestation, road expansion, infrastructure construction, and encroachment have narrowed the territory of wildlife. As a result, wild animals began to come closer to human settlements in search of food and safe habitats.

The number of some wild animals has increased due to the efforts of the government and local communities. However, with the increase in numbers, the pressure on food and habitat has also increased. Therefore, incidents of animals coming out of forests and entering fields, attacking domestic animals, damaging livestock sheds, and in some cases attacking humans have increased.

Thus, on one hand, the condition of forests and wildlife has improved, while on the other hand, human-wildlife conflict has also intensified. This situation is negative for both humans and wildlife.

In recent times, haphazard urbanization, indiscriminate road and infrastructure construction, deforestation, forest encroachment, forest fires, and the destruction of wildlife habitats have further exacerbated the problem. Poaching of wild animals like deer and wild boars has affected the food chain of large carnivores. In addition, the behavior of some wild animals has changed, and their dependence on agricultural crops has increased. Nutritious and easily available agricultural crops are attracting wild animals.

• Causes of Conflict in Local Experience

I discussed and conducted field observations with farmers in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area of Dolakha to understand whether human-wildlife conflict has increased only recently or if such a problem has existed traditionally.

Locals consider modern development activities as the main reason for the increasing problem of monkeys in the conservation area spread across Gaurishankar and Bigoo rural municipalities. According to Dhal Bahadur Tamang, ward chairman of Bigoo Rural Municipality-3, 'Earlier, monkeys used to live only around the river and the Tamakoshi river. Even though they caused minor damage to the crops there, they did not come to the villages. Now, due to the use of bulldozers and explosives during road construction for hydropower projects, their old habitat has been affected, and the monkeys have moved to the upper villages.'

According to locals, in the past, the problem of tigers eating domestic animals was more prevalent. Now, although this problem has decreased, the problem of monkeys, wild boars, birds, and bears has increased.

According to Uddhav Khadka of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-5, the problem has worsened as the number of people farming in the villages has decreased. According to him, 'Earlier, most of the fields in the village were cultivated. Since people were present in the fields from bottom to top, it was easy to drive away animals. Now, more than half of the fields are barren. Due to the increase in migration to cities and abroad, the fields have turned into forests.'

According to him, earlier, when farming was done everywhere, wild animals were scattered, but now, as farming is done in fewer areas, all the animals are concentrated in those areas.

Forest fires have also become another cause of the problem. Forest fires that occurred from February to May in previous years destroyed the habitat and food of wild animals. Due to the lack of food in the forest, wild animals were attracted to human settlements and fields.

Encroachment of forest areas, road expansion, infrastructure construction, and fragmentation of natural habitats have forced wild animals to come near settlements in search of food.

Similarly, changes in the agricultural system have also increased the problem. Earlier, various crops were grown, which did not attract wild animals much. Now, with the increase in monoculture of crops like maize, potato, and wheat, they have become easy targets for wild animals.

• Major Impacts of Conflict

Human-wildlife conflict has severely impacted rural life. Monkeys destroy maize, potatoes, and vegetables. Birds damage paddy and wheat, while wild boars plow and destroy fields overnight. This destroys the farmers' year-long hard work.

Bears occasionally come near settlements in search of food, leading to encounters with humans. People are injured by bear attacks every year. In some places, the problem has become so severe that Jiri Municipality had to install CCTV cameras in the road area to monitor bear activity.

As agricultural production declines, the rural economy is weakening. Many farmers are starting to abandon farming. As a result, arable land is turning into forests, which in turn helps in the expansion of wildlife habitats.

Continuous damage has forced many people to leave their villages and move to cities or abroad. A situation is arising where only the elderly are left in the villages. Social traditions like 'parma', 'parmpaat', and collective labor, which were prevalent in the past, are weakening.

After abandoning farming, the fields are turning into bushes and forests. This has further increased the number and movement of wild animals. Feelings of despair, mental stress, and insecurity are increasing among farmers.

• Traditional Methods of Prevention

In the hilly regions of Nepal, communities have traditionally adopted various methods for controlling wildlife. These methods were based on local resources, labor, and experience and were environmentally friendly.

Hattibar is a type of thorny plant used as a fence. Its dense thorns and structure made it difficult for wild animals to enter the fields. Similarly, fences were made from thorny plants like Siuri, Ghangaru, and Ainsel. This played an effective role in preventing wild boars and other animals. In some places, there was also a tradition of building stone walls.

In the past, there was a tradition of taking turns guarding the fields in the village. Collective efforts were made to stay in the fields all night, patrol, and drive away wild animals. Methods like making scarecrows, banging tin cans, and playing drums were adopted.

There was a practice of keeping dogs in villages and using them for the security of fields and livestock. The barking of dogs scared away wild animals, making it an effective method. When villagers farmed together over a large area, monitoring became easier. Also, there was a practice of growing crops that wild animals ate less, such as Kodo, Phapar, and Gahat.

Fires were lit, smoke was produced, and lights were kept on all night in potential areas where wild animals might come. The smell and thorns of some plants were disliked by wild animals, so such plants were used as fences. In the past, farmers used to move their livestock to pastures and fields and live there. This not only protected the fields but also helped in manure management. This tradition is now disappearing.

• Conclusion

Human-wildlife conflict has become a complex and multifaceted problem for the hilly regions of Nepal. It is having a serious impact on agriculture, the rural economy, social structures, and environmental balance.

However, a solution is not impossible. Traditional methods developed by our ancestors, such as hattibar, thorny fences made of ghangaru, collective guarding, and diverse farming practices, are still relevant today.

If these traditional practices can be combined with modern technology, effective policies, and active participation of local communities, coexistence between humans and wildlife can be rebalanced.

Active participation of local communities, government commitment, and conservation of traditional knowledge are essential for a sustainable solution. This path can revitalize villages, strengthen agricultural systems, and conserve biodiversity.