Human–Wildlife Conflict in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region – An Empirical Study

With rising human encroachment into wildlife habitats and rampant urbanisation, human–wildlife conflicts are on the rise. Such conflicts pose a high risk of injury or loss of life to citizens and wild animals alike. Further, the economic losses that ensue as an outcome of human–wildlife conflict are also substantial. At the same time, the value of biodiversity in urban areas is undeniable and its conservation is critical. Also, there is rising awareness regarding the legal implications of killing wild animals. Therefore, management of human–wildlife conflict in urban areas is a pressing requirement. However, successful prevention of human–animal conflicts must be based on sound area‐specific research with respect to the species involved in the conflict and the exact geographical locations where these conflicts occur. The present study aims to collect and analyse wild animal rescue records from 2014 to 2018 from the state forest department offices, volunteers, and NGOs from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to address the above concerns. The MMR has vast tracts of green areas (Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, and dense mangrove forests); being densely populated and highly modernised city, human–wildlife conflict in the MMR is a very real challenge. Towards the completion of this study, 7 forest offices, 13 NGOs, and 5 individuals were contacted, who were active in the MMR area for wild animal rescue to collate data from 2014 to 2017. Data were also compiled from newspaper reports. Records of approximately 7000 odd rescue events were obtained. Reptiles were found to be the most vulnerable taxon to human–wildlife conflict. The Mulund and Bhandup regions in MMR emerged as the region reporting the highest incidents of conflict. This study opens new vistas for researchers and policymakers in maintaining regularly updated records of city biodiversity and proposing a sustainable plan to manage the same. It will also help spread awareness among citizens about the importance of local biodiversity and encourage new conservation volunteers.