IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Rahman, H.A.; Barlow, A.C.D.; Greenwood, C.J.; Islam, M.A.; Ahmed, I.U. | |
| Livestock depredation by tiger on the edge of the Bangladesh Sundarbans | |
| 2009 Full Book | |
The Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan has an objective to minimize tiger-human conflict and an associated strategic action to reduce livestock depredation by tigers. Reduction of livestock depredation is required to secure the livelihoods of local people, and reduce the threat of stray tiger killing. Information is needed on livestock depredation by tigers to help track change in this issue over time and to identify potential management interventions. The objectives of this study were to: (1) estimate the scale of livestock depredation by Sundarbans tigers, (2) investigate the temporal and spatial aspects of livestock depredation, and (3) identify additional factors associated with livestock depredation. Data on the scale, temporal and spatial characteristics of livestock depredation were collected by interview surveys in the villages adjacent to the Sundarbans. Data on additional factors associated with livestock depredation were collected using randomly distributed strip transects in forest areas adjacent to the villages. A total of 205 livestock depredation incidents by tigers were recorded for four years (2005-2008) involving 292 livestock attacks. This is equivalent to an average of 51 livestock depredation incidents a year. The most common livestock attacked by tiger were cows (53%) and goats (32%). Most incidents occurred in Chandpai (189) and Satkhira (15), with less in Sarankhola (1), and Khulna (0). Approximately half of incidents occurred in the villages and half in the forest areas adjacent to the villages. Furthermore, half of incidents occurred during the night and half during the day. Incidents occurred in every month, with no identifiable difference in the number of incidents between months. Incidents were more frequent near villages that were separated from the forest by narrow _khals_. On a Sundarbans range level, a relatively high number of livestock depredation incidents occurred in ranges with relatively low levels of prey, relatively low levels of tree cutting, and (in the case of Chandpai range) high levels of livestock grazing. Management recommendations include (1) setting up a livestock depredation monitoring system, (2) formation of tiger response teams in areas of high livestock depredation to improve safety to humans, livestock, and tigers, (3) including livestock depredation and associated issues of human and tiger killing into community focused conservation awareness campaigns, (4) considering collaring habitual livestock-killing tigers, and (5) creation of an overall Tiger-Human Conflict management protocol. |
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