Dimensions of changing perception towards wildlife conservation in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalayas

Global Ecology and Conservation

Lalit Kumar Sharma¹  Kailash Chandra²  Ngilyang Anga²  Mary Pali²  Mihin Nipa²  Mukesh Thakur²  Joanica Delicia Jyrwa²  Bheem Dutt Joshi²  Yomto Mayi²  Avijit Ghosh² 

[1] Corresponding author. O/C Wildlife Section, Zoological Survey of India, M-block, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053, India.;Zoological Survey of India, M-block, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053, India;

关键词: East siang;    North-east India;    Perception;    Wildlife conservation;    Socio-economic;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Perception towards the wildlife conservation of locals determines the future of conservation programs, hence we assessed the perception of forest communities in East Siang district towards wildlife conservation in their surroundings. We collected questionnaire data from 1079 respondents of East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh during Nov 2018 to Feb 2019. The influence of different parameters including socio-demographic, socio-economic and human-wildlife interactions on local communities opinions concerning wildlife conservation were examined. The respondents provided wide and diversified responses about the significance of wildlife for different purposes such as food consumption (hunting) to mixed concerns (aesthetic, moral and future values) and ecological balance. The responses were recorded and tested independent variables, namely age, gender, household size, education, house type, crop damages, livestock attacks, human attacks, village, circles and occupation. The ANCOVA test revealed that villages (p = 0.000), circles (p = 0.001), education (p = 0.012), human attacks (p = 0.003) and gender (p = 0.033) were significantly associated with their opinions. Whereas the socio-economic status of locals also had a role in shaping perceptions about the wildlife conservation. The respondents belonging to the lower socio-economic classes have the negative attitude while upper classes have a positive attitude. Our research suggests that primary (adjusted standardized residual: asr = 2.3) and middle school (asr = 2.7) educated male respondents consider wildlife as food resources (asr = 3.7). However, the graduates believed that wildlife has a role in ecological balance (asr = 6.6). The increase in wildlife attacks on humans is unlikely to support conservation (asr = 4.5). It is suggested to enhance awareness creations, adoption of best practices to mitigate wildlife-human conflict and alternative livelihood for promoting wildlife conservation in the study landscape.

【 授权许可】

Unknown