Mitigating Human-Gaur Conflict: Meeting for Coordinators and Authors of Gaur SOP at Coimbatore

29 Oct, 2019

Human-gaur conflicts occur mainly at the interface of forest and adjoining human dominated landscape. Rapid loss and fragmentation of forests, diseases, illegal hunting, conflicts with people and escalating anthropogenic pressures seem to be the primary cause of decline of the gaur population in India. However, India supports 85% of its current global population and has the best chance for long-term conservation of this species.

The Indo-German Project “Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (HWC)” in India organised a meeting for Coordinators and Authors developing SOP for mitigating human-gaur conflict for further elaboration of the current document and discussion on various approaches. The purpose of developing the Gaur SOP was to facilitate a common understanding and consensus among key stakeholders on key approaches and possible solutions for mitigating human-gaur conflict in India. The event was hosted by Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore on 29th October 2019.

The meeting started with a welcome address from Dr K Sankar, Director SACON and Coordinating Lead Author (CLA), Gaur SOP followed by detailed discussions moderated by Mr PC Tyagi, CLA, Gaur SOP with special inputs from Mr Anwardeen, APCCF and Director Tamil Nadu Forest Academy, Coimbatore and Mr Subhankar Sengupta CCF and Field Director Buxa Tiger Reserve. The meeting received inputs from field officers and veterinary experts working on human-gaur conflict mitigation of Tamil Nadu Forest Department as well as representatives of WWF India and VNC working on human-gaur conflict in the Nilgiri and Western Ghats landscape.

The IUCN Red List of threatened species categorises Gaur as a vulnerable species. It is protected under Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 of India and listed in CITES Appendix-I, (CITES, 2003), which bans all international trade of gaur products.

 
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