Abstract

Man-wildlife conflict in Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent areas was studied during the years 1993 to 1996. Thirty species of larger mammals were recorded from the sanctuary which include the endangered lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus, Nilgiri marten Martes gwatkinsi, Spiny dormouse Platacanthomys lasirus and Leopard cat Felis bengalensis. Of these five species of animals were recroded as destruuctive to 17 crops. Tapioca and plantain were destroyed by wild boar and elephant. Crop damage bywildboar can be considered as severe where as from elephants it was only moderate. Thirteen indigenous crop protection methods were recorded from the area, which are effective up to certain extent. Solar electric fence was effective with proper maintenance and it completely prevented animals like elephant, sambar and gaur. Besides crop damage instances, four man slaughters were also recorded. Regarding man-wildlife conflict, tribals were experiencing only less of it where as local people are severely affected. Peripheral settlement have more educated people and the incidence of crop damage was also more. Local people heavily depended on the forest for thatching grass, reed and firewood. Kotoor tribal market was the main outlet for tribals to sell theirNWFP collections and eight items were commonly brought to the unique auction market controlled by the Kerala Forest Department. Crop damage is linked to the cropping pattern and location of settlements and it is one of the problem which severely deprive the economic status of tribals