Managing Human-Wildlife Interactions through Capacity Building, Awareness and Social Welfare.
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Tarabai park, Kolhapur
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Our Observation

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Observations

Existing forest staff is overloaded with work. Need to fill vacant posts and increase Vana-Rakshak. Every beat should have equal number of Vana-karmachari / Forest watcher. CHANDGAD CR has 11 beats and only 7 vana-majur working, in which 2 will retire soon. More forest watchers should be hire on temporary basis.

During our field visits we observed a lot of indications of Tiger presence in the CR. Thus, Chandgad CR can act as a perfect corridor for tiger migration from the protected areas of the southern western ghats to Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.

Special vet doctor should be assigned to cater wild animals in emergency. Putting a system of patrolling in place is necessary. Need effective mitigation plans for various wildlife-human conflicts like sloth bear attacks, elephant intrusion in farm lands etc.

Lack of awareness in locals of wildlife laws, illegality of hunting, poaching, tree felling and compensation for loss of crop and livestock. Wide spread hunting by local is still prevalent. Excessive fast two wheeler traffic observed on Isapur road to visit waterfalls.

Lack of discipline in visitors e.g. Littering, noise pollution. Livestock left to graze on forest lands, leading to kills and reduction in wild herbivore population. Stone crusher is observed in Waghotre beat of CR, leading to lot of noise pollution, heavy vehicle traffic.

Suggestions

Need to install maximum Trap cameras to study actual presence of wildlife and regular monitoring of threatened species systematically.

Hoardings installation in entire CHANDGAD CR about declaration of CR and awareness about rules & regulations.

Check posts on various internal roads passing through CR. Protection huts in various sensitive areas.

Restriction of night traffic on critical roads passing through CR.

Tourism development can be a useful tool to engage local communities and increase income.

Lot of unnecessary plantation of Nilgiri, Acacia, Karvi, Bakra trees has been in Chandgad CR. Need to take strong decision to avoid further plantations and eradicate or reduce old ones.

Need for more scientific research and environmental monitoring.

Advance training in Human-Animal conflicts, Data collection, Compensations for pro-active wildlife management.

Necessity for Tourism

Increasing community support for creating conservation.

Creating sustainable livelihoods through direct & indirect employment generations like – Home stays, Resorts, Restaurants, various retail shops. Raising environmental awareness.

Raising environmental awareness.

New sources of income will reduce negativity of locals towards wildlife and forest dept. This will also reduce migration of qualified youth to larger cities.

Increase vigilance - Reduce hunting / poaching, destruction of forest.

Animal movement will be monitored on a regular basis.

Preserve the local culture and heritage, strengthen communities, provides social services, commercialize local art and smaller businesses.

Steps To Enable Tourism

Provide guide and naturalist training to local youth in all aspects of diverse wildlife. Mines road is a perfect road for morning and evening safari. Should be part of tourism zone. Waghotre and Isapur main road are great options for morning and evening safari. Otherwise the remaining area in these beats should be under the core zone as they are very sensitive.

Trek from Pilani village to the temple of Bhogoli village is a good day trek. Apart from the trek route should be core. Boating safari in Zhambre dam is a good option. Otherwise it should be core area. Extremely important to develop new internal roads for vehicular access to increase protection. Trekking, camping, machan stay are good options on private lands neighbouring forests to attract tourists.

Tourism Scope

The geographical location of Chandgad is the biggest advantage. Its close proximity to 3 popular cities and airports like Belgavi, Goa, Kolhapur will attract tourists from all over the country. Good movement of iconic species like Tigers, Leopards, elephants and smaller nocturnal mammals.

Extremely diverse birding scope.

Presence of number of endemic species of the Western Ghats such as Brown Palm Civet, Mouse deer, Malabar Grey Hornbills, Malabar Trogan.

A paradise for herpetology.

Conservation tourism can also be encouraged where students from Zoology, Botany, Social Science, Economics can come and stay in villages and conduct studies.