Human-wildlife interactions: the connecting link to ecological sustenance.

Photo Courtesy: Rumna Mukherjee

A planet shared among millions of diverse species, the Homo sapiens merely occupy a small sliver of the biodiversity spectrum - 0.01% in terms of biomass, and are crowned as the most influential, capable and forward-thinking species as indicated by evolution and ontogeny. Classified under the phylum of Chordata as an order of Primates, Homo sapiens are an integral part of the animal kingdom, yet have always elected to view themselves as different from the other animals and even better than most. However, with great power comes great responsibility - a sense of empathy towards holistic preservation of all the other species we share the planet with, yet here we are waiting out the wreckage of a global pandemic as avaricious perpetrators of climate change, looters of the environment and biodiversity, and mercenaries to the very core. Darwinian evolution seems to have agreed with the Homo sapiens seeing as we are the most thriving species in the planet, surviving quite literally at the cost of millions of other species as we claim the figurative crown to a kingdom long gone.

We share a genetic code, behavioral patterns, and the planet with a thousand different species and despite our vastly different habitat and lifestyle, there are bound to be certain run-ins or encounters with our species and a million others; some garnering more heat and public outrage than others. Many pristine and intact habitats of various plants and animals are now being tapped, modified and fragmented to supply and accommodate an increase in urbanization due to a rise in population. India, which alone accounts for 17.7% of the global population has seen an increase in cases of human-wildlife conflict— an event often accompanied by a sense of acerbic apathy. An intriguing facet of the portrayal of human-animal interaction can be traced back to the Paleolithic age of the prehistoric era circling around the belief system of ‘Animism’, a belief that annotated a spiritual essence to animate and inanimate objects. Various animal species have occupied historical and theological significance across many polytheistic belief systems in ancient civilizations. The predominance of zoomorphism (half human-half animal) across the Egyptian culture deemed animals such as crocodiles, cats, serpents, etc. as sacred, Chinese deities and zodiacs often revolve around the symbolism of various animals such as Tigers, Horse, Stork, Wolf, etc. similar to that of many deities and beliefs in Hinduism, Judaism, and Arabic cultures. Despite the vast amount of cultural positivity and harmonious coexistence centered around animal rooted across various cultures and faiths, why does human-animal interaction in the 21^st century continue to draw out an air of antipathetic sensationalism? With the evolution of society as a whole, have we perhaps lost touch with our own cultural and humanitarian values and reduced ourselves to dictators of a decrepit ecosystem?

These questions that may stir up either fury or resignation among many need to be addressed at a societal level. Awareness and understanding the gospel of wildlife and their natural habitat is a primary prerequisite to understanding human-wildlife conflict— a basic prerequisite which may not be accessible to many due to socio-economic factors such as lack of access to education or socio-cultural limitations. In the case of wild animals such as leopards, tigers, sharks or crocodiles, a feeling of terror and aversion always precedes their image —a result of cultural appropriation and labeling done by the media. Articles and stories about “feral and terrorizing animals” have always managed to stir up media frenzy which ultimately results in public outrage and anger towards wildlife. The media coverage that went into reporting an incident in the Delhi zoo involving Vijay, a white tiger male, attacking a 22-year-old that fell into the animal enclosure received an intense amount of negative publicity and outcry with demands to even euthanize the white tiger, a species already facing endangerment. Due to the popularity of movie franchises such as ‘Jaws’, the notoriety of many of these conflict-causing animal species often precedes their image which more often than not results in an increase in illegal poaching and killing of these animals.

As the cost of any life is irreparable, many state governments and state forest departments often provide financial compensations to the family of the victim in cases of livestock predation, crop and property damage, and human injury and death.  due to animal attacks. The compensation amount varies across states and the attacking animal species; however, classification of species and the type of loss or damage often depend on the protocols as per the existing wildlife protection act, project tiger, project elephant, etc. and lack homogeneity. With compensations for human or economic loss, better policies and frameworks to prevent human-wildlife conflict need to be researched and developed more. Innovative and cost-effective techniques such as rapid response systems, GPS tracking, and early warning responses are paramount in today’s day and age to minimize friction between humans and wildlife, ultimately avoiding casualties at both ends.

Long gone are the days with medieval attitudes where the only reaction to wild animals would be violence, and the measure of chivalry and bravery of a person’s would be through taxidermy animal heads on walls or the rugs on the floor. We still have a long road ahead of us when it comes to harmonious co-existence and sustenance of all species, because in the words of Steve Irwin, the legendary naturalist, “If we save our wild places, we will ultimately save ourselves.”.

- Swagatama Mukherjee