International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN. 

Human-Wildlife Conflict as a Hazard in Uttarakhand (India): Consequences, and Mitigation

    ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1PNG, Govt. PG College, Ramnagar, Uttarakhamd, India
  • 2PNG, Govt. PG College, Ramnagar, Uttarakhamd, India

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 15, Issue (4), Pages 21-26, October,14 (2026)

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflict has escalated into a critical socio-ecological hazard in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, severely impacting biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods. This study examines HWC trends (2020–2023) and local perceptions in conflict hotspots, including Alakhnanda Ghati and the Rajaji-Corbett corridor. Integrating secondary data from the Uttarakhand Forest Department with a primary survey (n=42), the research highlights a rising fatality rate, and focus on human wildlife co-existence. Survey results reveal that 83.3% of residents perceive wild animals as a continuous threat, and a significant majority identify HWC as a primary driver of rural-urban out-migration. While leopards and monkeys are the most disruptive species, locals attribute the conflict to increasing social interference in wildlife habitats and a perceived "reluctant" government response. The study concludes that current reactive measures are insufficient and calls for structural interventions such as solar fencing and community-led habitat restoration.

References

  1. Dickman, A. J. (2010)., Complexities of conflict: The importance of considering social factors for effectively resolving human–wildlife conflict., Animal Conservation, 13(5), 458–466.
  2. Pooley, S., Barua, M., Beinart, W., Dickman, A., Holmes, G., Lorimer, J., ... & Milner‐Gulland, E. J. (2017)., An interdisciplinary review of current and future approaches to improving human–predator relations., Conservation Biology, 31(3), 513-523.
  3. Badola, R., Ahmed, T., Gill, A. K., Dobriyal, P., Das, G. C., Badola, S. & Hussain, S. A. (2021)., An incentive-based mitigation strategy to encourage coexistence of large mammals and humans along the foothills of Indian Western Himalayas., Scientific Reports, 11(1).
  4. Mills, K. L., Belant, J. L., Beukes, M., Dröge, E., Everatt, K. T., Fyumagwa, R., ... & Sanders, N. J. (2023)., Tradeoffs between resources and risks shape the responses of a large carnivore to human disturbance., Communications biology, 6(1), 986.
  5. John Singh A. J. T. and Negi A. N (2003)., Status of leopard and tiger in Rajaji Conservation Unit, Northern India., Biological Conservation 111(3), 385 393.
  6. Naha, D., Sathyakumar, S., & Rawat, G. S. (2018)., Understanding drivers of human-leopard conflicts in the Indian Himalayan region: Spatio-temporal patterns of conflicts and perception of local communities towards conserving large carnivores., PLoS ONE, 13(10).
  7. Bhatt, D. C., Sethi, V. K., Arya, A. K., Bargali, H., Bachheti, A., Sharma, R. N., Chandra, T., Saini, V., & Kukreti, M. (2025)., Impact of Human-Wildlife Conflict on Human Lives in Tehri District of Uttarakhand (Western Himalayas), India., Biology Bulletin, 52(6).
  8. Javid Mohsin K. A. (2024)., Exploring the dynamic coexistence of humans and wildlife: Understanding causes, nature and strategies for managing human wildlife interaction in Ganderbal, Jammu Kashmir., Indian Journal of Ecology, 51(1), 90 113.
  9. Hoffmann, E., Konerding, V., Nautiyal, S., & Buerkert, A. (2019)., Is the push-pull paradigm useful to explain rural-urban migration? A case study in Uttarakhand, India., PLoS ONE, 14(4).
  10. Kumar, S., Roy, C., Sati, V. P., Pandey, K., Sarkar, T., & Singh, R. (2025)., Out-migration from the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) with drivers, patterns and policy implications for sustainable mountain development., Discover Sustainability, 6(1).
  11. Wallach, A. D., Batavia, C., Bekoff, M., Alexander, S., Baker, L., Ben‐Ami, D., & Ramp, D. (2020)., Recognizing animal personhood in compassionate conservation., Conservation Biology, 34(5), 1097-1106.
  12. Margulies, J. D. & Karanth, K. K. (2018)., The production of human-wildlife conflict: A political animal geography of encounter., Geoforum, 95, 153–164.
  13. Kichloo, M. A., Sohil, A., & Sharma, N. (2024). Living with leopards: an assessment of conflict and people, undefined, undefined
  14. Azad, S. (2024)., Human wildlife conflicts in Uttarakhand: 64 lives lost in 2023.,
  15. Singh, V. (2023)., Despite years of efforts, Uttarakhand hasn’t really been able to reduce human animal conflict.,
  16. Sunandha, K. A., & Shaji, M. (2025)., Evaluating the Effectiveness of Farmer-and Government-Led Mitigation Measures for Human Wildlife Conflict in Kannur District, Kerala, India., Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 43(12), 166-171.
  17. Das, G., Selvan, K., Lahkar, B. P. & Gopi, G. V. (2022)., Effectiveness of physical barriers in mitigating human–elephant negative interactions in North-East India., Frontiers in Conservation Science, 3,956568.
  18. Mathur N (2014)., The region of terror of the big cat: Bureaucracy and the mediation of social times in the Indian Himalaya., Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 20(1), 148 165.
  19. Uttarakhand Forest Department (2024)., Forest report 2023 24.,
  20. Singh, K. (2024)., More effective steps required to prevent human animal conflict: Uttarakhand CM.,
  21. Stevens, M., Rawat, S., & Satterfield, T. (2024). Care, conflict, and coexistence: Human–wildlife relations in community forests. People and Nature, 7(1), 231–246. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10760, undefined, undefined
  22. Mukeka, J. M., Ogutu, J. O., & Kanga, E. (2019). Trends in compensation for human-wildlife conflict losses in Kenya. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 11(3), 90-113., undefined, undefined
  23. Garhwal Post, 1 March. https://garhwalpost.in/govt-committed-to-curbing-human-wildlife- conflict-subodh-uniyal/ (accessed on 12/02/2026)., undefined, undefined