Human–crocodile conflict in the Indian Sundarban: an analysis of spatio-temporal incidences in relation to people's livelihood

Das, Chandan Surabhi; Jana, Rabindranath

doi:10.1017/s0030605316001502

Cited by 33 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…Research articles on crocodile attacks are revealing informative spatial and temporal patterns in attacks, and provide useful information about the demographics of attack victims (recent examples include Brien et al, 2017; Shaney et al, 2017; Vyas & Stevenson, 2017; Das & Jana, 2018), but data for Nile crocodiles are inadequate. Published data of varying quality and quantity (most not peer reviewed) exist for 12 of the 30 African countries where attacks are known to occur (Pooley, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesizing Nile crocodileCrocodylus niloticusattack data and historical context to inform mitigation efforts in South Africa and eSwatini (Swaziland)

Pooley

Botha²,

Combrink

et al. 2019

Oryx

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Conflicts with wildlife are a major challenge for conservation across Africa, and Nile crocodiles Crocodylus niloticus are allegedly responsible for more attacks on people than any other species; however, there is a lack of data regarding such attacks. We analysed reported attacks on people by Nile crocodiles in South Africa and eSwatini (Swaziland) during 1949–2016, identifying spatial and temporal patterns in attack incidence, as well as victim demographics. Through a literature review and archival searches we identified records of 214 attacks. Most attacks occurred in natural water bodies, with attacks in dams increasing since 2000. Most victims were attacked while swimming or bathing, others while fishing, doing domestic chores, and crossing waterways. There was a significant relationship between gender and activity when attacked. Children (< 16 years old) accounted for 51% of all attacks, with a higher fatality rate compared to adults. Most victims were male (65%), with teenage boys being the largest individual category. We make recommendations for conservation policy and management to mitigate attacks by Nile crocodiles.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesizing Nile crocodileCrocodylus niloticusattack data and historical context to inform mitigation efforts in South Africa and eSwatini (Swaziland)

Pooley

Botha²,

Combrink

et al. 2019

Oryx

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“…Human‐crocodile conflict is on the increase globally (Pooley ), and we suspect the approach we took has application to other developing countries, especially those in which saltwater crocodile recovery is causing increased HCC: Indonesia (CrocBITE ), Papua New Guinea (Solmu ), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Palau (Manolis and Webb ), India (Das and Jana ), and Sri Lanka (Amarasinghe et al ). The significance of HCC fatalities when reported in isolation may be difficult to appreciate, but HCC fatalities in Timor‐Leste equal 14.3% of road fatalities and exceed losses to both malaria and dengue fever; these are significant yardsticks for mortality risk in the tropics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When conservation becomes dangerous: Human‐Crocodile conflict in Timor‐Leste

Brackhane

Webb

Xavier³

et al. 2018

J Wildl Manag

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In northern Australia and nearby Timor‐Leste, saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) populations were seriously depleted historically but recovered rapidly after protection: 1969–1974 in northern Australia, and 2000–2005 in Timor‐Leste. In both places, recovery caused increased rates of human‐crocodile conflict (HCC). Within northern Australia, the crocodile recovery and HCC have been documented over time. In contrast, this has not been the situation in Timor‐Leste, where we investigated HCC based on 130 attack records (1996–2014; 52% fatal). In 1996–2006, 0.55 attacks/year were reported in Timor‐Leste. By 2007–2014, 9 years later, a 23‐fold increase had occurred (13 attacks/year). Traditional subsistence fishing (82.5% of all attack records) is the highest risk activity, followed by bathing (7.5%) and water collecting (4.2%). Although the human population was correlated with crocodile attacks in Timor‐Leste, it likely does not explain the dramatic increase in crocodile attacks. Alternatively, crocodile numbers may have increased, either in the remnant resident crocodile population, or via migrants from elsewhere. Permanent crocodile habitat is limited, and limited breeding does not explain the high number of large crocodiles, and consequent increase in attacks in such a short time. A plausible explanation, consistent with traditional knowledge in Timor‐Leste, is that the influx of large crocodiles attacking people are migrants from Australia. We examined this possibility from available sources. Within Australia crocodiles have recovered since protection and they regularly invade adjacent habitats, such as Darwin harbor, where they are removed to prevent attacks on people. Saltwater crocodiles have been sighted at oil rigs, in the open ocean, moving between northern Australia and the south coast of Timor‐Leste. The likelihood of crocodiles migrating from Australia to Timor‐Leste raises obvious conservation, moral, and ethical dilemmas when conserving a large dangerous predator in one country to increase abundance results in dispersal to another country, where the predator attacks and kills people. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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“…Besides, women and children are hitting local creeks and canals for shrimp seeds and crabs, which make them more vulnerable to adverse conditions. According to Das and Jana [31],prawn seed and crab collectors were worst affected by saltwater crocodile exposing them to life-threatening surroundings.…”

Section: Fishing and Livelihood In Indian Sundarbansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic Analysis of P.monodon Post Larvae by-catch in Indian Sundarbans: An Impasse between Livelihood and Conservation

Ekka¹,

Pandit²,

Sandhya³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The livelihood of most of the fishers in Indian Sundarbans is dependent on Penaeus monodon post larvae fishing. These post larvae collectors are socially backward lacking economic security. The activity of collecting Penaeus monodon post larvae for rearing in aquaculture, destroy other aquatic species. Many other juveniles of shellfish and fin fish were destroyed in the process of collection of Penaeus monodon post larvae. The removal of juveniles before they reach maturity disturbs the ecological chain by hampering breeding processes and may cause extinction of some fish species in the long run. The present study is an attempt to estimate the economic value of juveniles destroyed in the collection of (Penaeus monodon) post larvae. In total 32 species were identified in P.monodon the post larval by-catch. The economic loss is assessed based on estimating biomass by taking a length-weight relationship from published literature. Further, the paper illustrates how does a profit enterprise is linked with natural resource exploitation. The paper explores government policy and nature conservation issues for social justice and effective conservation.In conclusion, suggestions are given to reduce the burden of livelihood on natural resources to the extent of exploitation and to strengthen institution and policy-making considering socio-ecological vulnerabilities of the area.

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Human–crocodile conflict in the Indian Sundarban: an analysis of spatio-temporal incidences in relation to people's livelihood

Cited by 33 publications

References 20 publications

Synthesizing Nile crocodileCrocodylus niloticusattack data and historical context to inform mitigation efforts in South Africa and eSwatini (Swaziland)

Synthesizing Nile crocodileCrocodylus niloticusattack data and historical context to inform mitigation efforts in South Africa and eSwatini (Swaziland)

When conservation becomes dangerous: Human‐Crocodile conflict in Timor‐Leste

Economic Analysis of P.monodon Post Larvae by-catch in Indian Sundarbans: An Impasse between Livelihood and Conservation

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