Translocation as a tool for mitigating conflict with leopards in human-dominated landscapes of India

Published source details Athreya V., Odden M., Linnell J.D.C. & Karanth K.U. (2011) Translocation as a tool for mitigating conflict with leopards in human-dominated landscapes of India. Conservation Biology, 25, 133-141.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Translocate problem mammals away from residential areas (e.g. habituated bears) to reduce human-wildlife conflict Action Link

Translocate problem mammals away from residential areas (e.g. habituated bears) to reduce human-wildlife conflict

A before-and-after study in 1993–2003 in a largely arable area in Maharashtra, India (Athreya et al. 2011) found that after leopards Panthera pardus fusca were translocated away from human-dominated areas, the frequency and fatality of leopard attacks on humans increased and attacks on livestock increased. There were more leopard attacks on humans after translocations began (8–24/year) than before (1–7/year) and these resulted in more human fatalities (after: 3–11/year; before: 0–2/year). There were more leopard attacks on livestock after translocations began (average 166 attacks/year) than in the 12 month before translocations began (106 attacks). Authors reported that the attacks were by the translocated leopards. In a 4,275-km² study area, with a human population density of 185 people/km², 103 leopard translocations occurred between February 2001 and December 2003. Eighty-six leopards were caught in human-dominated areas, with 29 translocated <60 km to either of two natural forest sites and 56 moved >200 km to release sites elsewhere. Eleven leopards from outside the study area were also released at the natural forest sites. Location data were not available for six translocations. Human attack data during the translocation period were compared with those collated for 1993–2000.

(Summarised by: Rebecca F. Schoonover)