Carnivores’ diversity and conflicts with humans in Musk Deer National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Ahmad, Shakeel; Hameed, Shafqat; Ali, Hussain; Khan, Tauheed Ullah; Mehmood, Tahir; Nawaz, Muhammad Ali

doi:10.1007/s10344-016-1029-6

Cited by 54 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Goats and sheep, due to their medium size body, weighing 25 kg (average), are easy to attack, capture, and kill as compared to large-sized livestock like cow, buffalo, horse, etc. [35,57]. Similar results were concluded in some other studies showing that goats and sheep fall within the preferred prey size range of carnivores [36,37,58].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…The economic loss due to wolf depredation was USD 11,910 (USD 108.27 per household), which is almost three times lower than the loss due to diseases (Table 1). Previous literatures also supported the same results and acknowledged this notion [35,37,46,47,48]. The mountain communities already living below the poverty line [49,50,51] bear further economic stress due to diseases and livestock predators, which make the earning of monetary needs more difficult [46].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

“…Studies carried out in different parts of the world reported a higher depredation rate when the livestock were left unguarded and unattended [59,60]. However, in winter they usually keep their livestock at home, feeding them with the stocked fodders gathered from the forests [35,61].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A higher density (1.0–1.4/100 km 2 ) of wolf has been reported in its northern range [31], while a relatively lower density (0.1/100 km 2 ) was observed in its southern range [32]. The limited literature [33,34,35,36,37,38] on the subject in Pakistan describes that the wolf is the least accepted species among other sympathetic carnivores due to its conflict over livestock depredation with the locals. However, to our knowledge, studies regarding grey wolf conflict with humans in this region have not been reported.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Status and Magnitude of Grey Wolf Conflict with Pastoral Communities in the Foothills of the Hindu Kush Region of Pakistan

Khan

Luan

Ahmad

et al. 2019

Animals

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Simple SummaryDespite higher loss due to disease, human–carnivore conflicts over livestock depredation is one of the major problems in carnivore conservation, both locally and globally. Locals share negative attitudes towards the wolf due to conflicts over livestock depredation. Using semi-structured questionnaires, we found that grey wolf is in a serious conflict with the locals, causing economic loss to them at the expanse of its own life. The locals considered the species a serious threat to their livestock, causing them economic losses, and wanted to reduce or even eliminate it from their area. Respondents having larger herd size and higher dependency on livestock for earning livelihoods shared more negative attitudes towards the wolves. In our study area the economic loss of the locals due to livestock mortalities from diseases was higher than that from wolf depredation. Therefore, we suggested that vaccination of the livestock and compensation schemes will help to change the perception of locals towards wolf.AbstractPastoralist–wolf conflict over livestock depredation is the main factor affecting conservation of grey wolf worldwide. Very limited research has been carried out to evaluate the pattern and nature of livestock depredation by wolf. This study aims to determine the status and nature of human–wolf conflict across different villages in the Hind Kush region of Pakistan during the period January 2016–December 2016. For this purpose, a total of 110 local male respondents from all walks of life were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The grey wolf was declared as a common species in the area by 51.3% of the locals with an annual sighting rate of 0.46 each. During the year (2016), a total of 358 livestock were lost to grey wolf predation and disease. Of the total livestock loss, grey wolf was held responsible for a total 101 livestock losses. Goat and sheep were the most vulnerable prey species as they accounted for 80 (79.2%) of the total reported depredations. Out of the total economic loss (USD 46,736, USD 424.87/household), grey wolf was accountable for USD 11,910 (USD 108.27 per household), while disease contributed 34,826 (USD 316.6 per household). High depredation was observed during the summer season 58.42% (n = 59) followed by spring and autumn. Unattended livestock were more prone to grey wolf attack during free grazing in forests. Most of the respondents (75.45%) showed aggressive and negative attitudes towards grey wolf. The herders shared more negative attitude (z = −3.21, p = 0.001) than businessman towards the species. Herders having larger herd size displayed more deleterious behavior towards wolves than those having smaller herd size. Active herding techniques, vaccinating livestock, educating locals about wildlife importance, and initiating compensating schemes for affected families could be helpful to decrease negative perceptions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Status and Magnitude of Grey Wolf Conflict with Pastoral Communities in the Foothills of the Hindu Kush Region of Pakistan

Khan

Luan

Ahmad

et al. 2019

Animals

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“…However, local people exhibit resentment to dholes and their conservation due to persistent dhole-related livestock predation (Katel et al, 2015). This is principally driven by socioeconomic losses because pastoral communities experiencing human-carnivore conflict tend to have low income with low tolerance to carnivores and their conservation (Ahmad et al, 2016). As such, there is likelihood for retaliation against dholes reminiscent of historic poisoning efforts against the species in the 1970-80s (Wangchuk, 2004).…”

Section: Conservation Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conserving an Endangered Canid: Assessing Distribution, Habitat Protection, and Connectivity for the Dhole (Cuon alpinus) in Bhutan

Thinley¹,

Rajaratnam²,

Kamler³

et al. 2021

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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Most canids face population declines and range contractions worldwide. Although the dhole (Cuon alpinus) is widely distributed across 10 countries in South and Southeast Asia, limited studies exist on this species. Despite its globally “Endangered” status and ecological role as an apex predator, assessments on its distribution are limited to a few landscapes and countries. This explains the lack of a dhole-specific species conservation plan in most range countries, including Bhutan where no current population estimate exists. The species has also recovered from a country-wide poisoning campaign in the 1970s and 80s. In this study, we determine the dhole's distribution pattern and assess the protection and connectivity of dhole habitat in Bhutan. We anticipated dholes to be extant within their habitat well-represented in protected areas (PAs) and biological corridors (BCs). We used 721 georeferenced dhole occurrence records and eight environmental variables in MaxEnt software to model potential dhole distribution and habitat suitability. The model output was overlaid on the spatial layers of PAs and BCs to assess habitat protection and connectivity. As anticipated, we found the dhole widely distributed in all districts, PAs, and BCs in Bhutan. Dholes were recorded at the highest elevation range limit of 4,980 m above sea level, which overlapped with the “Vulnerable” snow leopard (Panthera uncia). Our model identified 72% (27,634 km2) of the country as suitable areas for dholes, of which, 31% (11,899 km2) was highly suitable and 41% (15,735 km2) was moderately suitable. Contrary to our expectation, PAs and BCs encompassed only 29% (8,046 km2) and 12% (3,185 km2) of suitable areas for dholes, respectively. A vast majority of the areas we deemed suitable for dholes currently remain unprotected, thus making dholes more vulnerable to human persecution and local extermination. We recommend adjusting PA boundaries to fully encompass suitable dhole habitat, and also advocate improved livestock husbandry to reduce dhole related livestock predation and minimize conflict, thereby ensuring its long-term survival in Bhutan.

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Conservation and mitigation approaches for human–gray wolf (Canis lupus) conflicts in Shigar Valley, Northern Pakistan

Zaman,

Riegert,

Chen

et al. 2024

Wildlife Letters

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Human‐gray wolf conflict over livestock depredation and absence of mitigation measures is a key threat leading to the decline of wolf populations in Pakistan, where gray wolves are endangered. In this study, we collected data from January 2019 to September 2021, and human–wolf conflict and mitigation measures were investigated by interviews with 200 shepherds that were randomly selected from 43 different human settlements. We used binary logistic GLM models to predict landscape features related to gray wolf conflict patterns. Over the 3 years of the study, the gray wolf was responsible for 963 livestock losses and 244.50 million rupees (1,381,388.14 USD) in economic loss in summer, and 798 livestock losses along with 169.31 million rupees (956,608.1356 USD) economic loss in winter for the same 200 shepherds in Shigar valley. Our questionnaires revealed that shepherds hold negative attitudes toward the species when there is inadequate compensation by the several government department.

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Carnivores’ diversity and conflicts with humans in Musk Deer National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Cited by 54 publications

References 51 publications

Status and Magnitude of Grey Wolf Conflict with Pastoral Communities in the Foothills of the Hindu Kush Region of Pakistan

Status and Magnitude of Grey Wolf Conflict with Pastoral Communities in the Foothills of the Hindu Kush Region of Pakistan

Conserving an Endangered Canid: Assessing Distribution, Habitat Protection, and Connectivity for the Dhole (Cuon alpinus) in Bhutan

Conservation and mitigation approaches for human–gray wolf (Canis lupus) conflicts in Shigar Valley, Northern Pakistan

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