States » NorthPosted at: Sep 19 2026 9:17PM


Himachal ropes in WII-SACON for rapid assessment of human-wildlife conflict

Shimla, September 19 (UNI) A team from the Wildlife Institute of India-Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (WII-SACON), Coimbatore, will undertake a rapid assessment of human-wildlife conflict in Himachal Pradesh and prepare area-specific action plans for mitigating conflicts involving bears and leopards, officials said on Saturday.
A meeting in this regard was held at the Forest Headquarters here between the WII-SACON team and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Alok Prem Nagar during which various aspects of the proposed study were discussed. Ten forest divisions have initially been selected for the assessment, particularly areas reporting a higher incidence of human-wildlife conflict.
The study will focus primarily on human-bear and human-leopard conflicts and assess the present situation, identify factors contributing to such incidents and suggest management interventions suited to individual areas.
Nagar said the rapid assessment would help identify the detailed causes behind human-wildlife conflict involving bears and leopards in the state.
The findings would enable the Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department to take targeted measures to address the underlying causes and reduce conflict incidents in different areas.
He described the assessment as an important step towards understanding and mitigating human-wildlife conflict, adding that the department would take concrete measures based on the recommendations emerging from the study.
Shimla South Divisional Forest Officer Preeti Bhandari, said separate action plans would be prepared for different areas and species, particularly bears and leopards.
The plans would focus on addressing the major causes of conflict and identifying practical measures for reducing interactions between wildlife and local communities.
She said the study would also involve interaction with local residents in the selected areas to understand their experiences and concerns regarding human-wildlife conflict.
The exercise would simultaneously seek to create greater awareness among communities about wildlife and measures for preventing conflict.
The Forest Department officials said the assessment is intended to provide a scientific basis for future management strategies and strengthen efforts to minimise human-wildlife conflict while promoting coexistence between local communities and wildlife.
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Tags: #Himachal ropes in WII-SACON for rapid assessment of human-wildlife conflict
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