Latest news with #Sennaspectabilis
Time of India
9 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Bengaluru concern: Human-wildlife conflicts soar 183%; elephants, big cats spark fear near villages, farms
BENGALURU : Karnataka has recorded a staggering 183% rise in human-wildlife conflict (HWC) incidents over the past five years, raising serious concerns for both govt and forest department. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now From a few hundred reported cases in 2019 to several thousand by the end of 2024, the escalation involves several species, especially in southern Western Ghats. A recent study titled 'Geospatial Identification of Human-Wildlife Conflict Hotspots in the Southern Western Ghats', published in 'Indian Society of Remote Sensing' journal, examined over 34,000 HWC incidents across Karnataka from 2019 to 2023. The research, conducted by experts from premier institutes in Karnataka and Telangana, identified conflict clusters and hotspots, providing valuable insights for future management strategies. The study shows the govt disbursed about Rs 27 crore in compensation to victims during this period. While 17 animal species were involved in conflict cases, nearly 98% were attributed to elephants, tigers, and leopards. Other incidents also involved wild boars, gaurs, spotted deer, peacocks, and sloth bears. Contrary to the belief that animals invade human areas mainly in summer seeking food and water, the study found that the highest number of incidents — 30.9% — occurred during the monsoon months of July to Sept, followed closely by Oct to Dec (29.4%). GM Pavithra, one of the researchers, said: 'The trend is largely due to high density of invasive species such as 'Lantana camara' and 'Senna spectabilis', which not only obstructs animals' movement but also deprives them of food. Monoculture plantations in the past have also contributed in a significant way.' Destroyed crops accounted for 97.8% of damage caused by elephants, with gaurs responsible for 1.4%. Almost all conflicts occurred in agricultural lands, plantations, or orchards. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The study highlighted proximity as a key factor, noting, 'Over 5,000 incidents were reported close to human settlements, ranging from 100m to 500m. While elephant-related conflicts were common at all distances, carnivores (tigers, leopards) were seen within 100m of human settlements.' Infrastructure development also exacerbates the problem. 'Roads disrupt wildlife movement patterns, exacerbating crop depredation due to increased accessibility of cultivated food sources along the corridors,' the report stated. It further noted that conflicts with elephants were more frequent at higher elevations (750 to 1,000m), whereas carnivore-related incidents occurred mostly at lower elevations (500 to 750m) near forest edges.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
6,000 tonnes of invasive species removed from Wayanad forest
KOCHI: Forest Minister A K Saseendran, on Tuesday, said that the forest department removed 6,000 tonnes of Senna spectabilis, an invasive tree species that has been destroying the biodiversity of Wayanad forests. According to the minister, public sector paper manufacturer Kerala Paper Products Ltd (KPPL) removed around 5,000 tonnes of senna from Wayanad Wildlife Division, while 1,100 metric tonnes of senna was removed by other agencies from the North Wayanad division. Apart from KPPL, the forest department has engaged P K Timbers and two contractors to remove the invasive species. In the past four years, the forest department has been able to remove senna from around 1,000 acres of forest land, as a measure to restore natural vegetation. Last month, the cabinet had decided to engage more agencies, including Western India Pvt Ltd, to remove the species. 'Restoring the forest ecosystem after removing the senna will help improve the habitat, and ensure food and water to the wild animals. This will help in reducing incidents of wild animals straying into human habitations,' said Saseendran.
