Human-Leopard Conflict in Gudalur Forest Division, The Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu – A report from the ground.
Kannaiyan Subramaniam
K. Mohanraj
R . Vennila
We learned that in Pandalur taluk of the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, two people died, and three others were injured in leopard attacks over a 16-day period. Reports of people's protests emerged. Following the Leopard attack incidents and protests, the problematic leopard was captured by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. On 11thJanuary, 2024 We embarked on a journey to the affected areas, met people and officials to gather information about these unfortunate events. Our objective is to explore the causes of the conflict, evaluate the government's response, and propose mitigation strategies.
Mr. D.Venkatesh, IFS
We met Mr. D.Venkatesh, Conservator of Forests(CF) and Field Director of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) and spoke to him about the leopard attack incidents and subsequent protests. He narrated the following sequence of incidents and response of the forest department.
The problematic leopard was injured thus affecting its ability to walk properly and causing deliberate attacks on humans.
The forest department traced and caught the leopard and sent it to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, Chennai.
During the capture operation, they faced difficulties from protesting people.
To deal with the leopard incidents a committee was formed which included a local NGO representative.
The lack of coordination among the field staff contributed to delays in decision-making for planning and executing operations, leading to unrest and protests among the public.
As per the Government Order, a solatium of Rs. 5 lakhs each for the families of the deceased was sanctioned by the Field Director. Later Rs. 10 lakhs each were sanctioned by the district administration, as per the orders of the honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
We called Mr. Kommu Omkaram, District Forest Officer(DFO), Gudalur division to fix time to talk to him. As he was busy, we proceeded towards Gudalur for our night stay.
On 12th, January, 2024, we visited Elamanna village in Pandalur taluk. We landed up in the solid waste management dump yard of Nelliyalam Municipality and enquired about the leopard incidents. The dump yard workers said that there are plenty of chicken, meat and food waste dumped in the site and wild boars, birds and other scavenging animals are attracted towards the site. Leopards were frequently sighted on the site. Few hundred yards from the dump yard, Ms. Saritha lived with her family. She was a mother of two children aged around 4 and 8 years old respectively.
Ms. Saritha (29)
Ms. Saritha, a Paniya tribal woman of Elamanna village, Nelliyalam Municipality, Pandalur taluk, The Nilgiris district, lived in a small house constructed under a government scheme. On 21st december 2023, at 6:10 AM, a leopard attacked and severely injured her in the verandah of her home, then fled in to tea bushes. Injured Saritha was initially rushed to the taluk government hospital in Pandalur and later shifted to The Nilgiris district government hospital in Ooty. Subsequently, after a week, she was transferred to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries.
Her family members told us that she could have been saved if she was shifted to a higher medical facility from Ooty in advance. The delay in obtaining her death certificate was noted during our visit. A cheque for Rs.30,000 was given to Saritha in her name when she was undergoing treatment at Government hospital in Ooty by the forest department.
Fig. 1 - Ms. Saritha’s younger sister(left) her neighbour (right)
We observed, the hamlet lacks toilet facilities, leading to open defecation. A solid waste management project in the vicinity emanates a foul odour, and during the rainy season seepage water runs down near the houses, contaminating the drinking water thus making the hamlet uninhabitable.
Ms. Thonga (70)
Ms. Thonga, a Paniya tribal woman residing around 700 metres away from Saritha's house in Kotrikkal hamlet was attacked by the same leopard on the same day around 8:30 AM, sustaining injuries on her head, cheek, and back. Injured Thonga was taken to the local taluk government medical facility in Pandalur and later shifted to the Nilgiris district government hospital in Ooty. Thonga received a cheque for Rs. 30,000 from the Forest Department. She had deposited the cheque in the bank after she was discharged. She had to go to the taluk hospital and to the district hospital two times each for follow-up.
Her fear of venturing out is compounded by the lack of toilet facilities. There is a common toilet built 3 years ago under government scheme, but it is not usable as there is no toilet pit and the structure has already collapsed due to malpractice in implementing the scheme. Family members told that she still feels giddy and the doctors advised her to take rest.
Fig. 2 - Ms. Thonga was being taken to Government hospital in Ooty.
Photo courtesy: Sathyamurthy.M, The Hindu.
Fig. 3 - Ms. Thonga’s brother’s residence where she lives.
Ms. Valliammal (73)
Around 10 AM on the same day, Ms. Valliammal, a Dalit agricultural labourer residing in Perungarai Uppatti hamlet which is around 300 metres from Thonga’s place was attacked by the same leopard at her foot in front of her house inside the tea plantation. She was rushed to the taluk government hospital in Pandalur and treated there. She received a cheque for Rs.30,000 from the Forest Department after a week. Ms.Valliammal and her neighbours were scared of the leopards. There is a toilet facility at her house.
Fig. 4 - Kannaiyan Subramaniam interacts with Ms. Valliammal’s Daughter in-law Ms. Kalai Amudham(centre) and their neighbour Ms. Tamil Selvi
Selvi. Kirithika(4)
Again, there was a reported leopard attack on a child around 6 PM on 4th January 2024, in the Xavier Mattam village of the Cherambadi Forest Range. Kirithika, a four-year-old girl and the daughter of Vasantharaj from Bangalore, Karnataka, was visiting her grandparents in the Xavier Mattam village of Cherangodu Panchayat in the Cherambadi forest range of the Gudalur Forest Division. She was snatched by the same leopard, leaving her injured amid the screams of onlookers.
Injured child Kirithika was taken to government taluk hospital in Pandalur and later shifted to government taluk hospital in Gudalur. Initially Rs. 5,000 was spent by the forest Range Officer of Cherambadi on humanitarian grounds. In Kirithika's case, the forest department officials took her to hospitals in the department vehicle. On 26th January, 2024, the forest department officials handed over a cheque for Rs.30000/ to Kirithika’s mother.
Fig. 5 - Forest officials handing over a cheque to the family of Kirithika for Rs.30,000
Selvi. Nancy (4)
Nancy, a 4 -year-old child is the daughter of Ms.Milanthi Devi and Mr.Shivasankar Khaerwar, a couple from Jharkhand and migrant labourers in Mango estate of Parry Agro Industries Limited under Pandalur Forest Range.
On 6th January, 2024, around 4.15 PM, the same leopard snatched Nancy from her mother and killed while she was bringing her from an Anganwadi (child care centre) in Mango range tea estate belonging to Parry Agro Industries ltd. This unfortunate incident fuelled further protests and road blockades in the area, intensifying the call for immediate action.
We could not contact Nancy’s parents as they have already left the place and gone to Jharkhand.
Following this incident, a lot of people and local organisations protested in Kollappally and demanded to kill the leopard. In response, the Chief Wildlife Warden granted permission under Wildlife Protection Act to chemically tranquilize and capture the Leopard.
On 7th January 2024, at around 3:30 PM, the problematic leopard was chemically tranquilized and captured approximately 600 metres from the location where Child Nancy was killed in the Mango Range tea estate, within the Pandalur Forest Range. The captured leopard was subsequently sent to Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, Chennai.
Fig. 6 - Ms. Aruna, the Nilgiris district collector, condoles the bereaved family of Nancy.
Photo courtesy: Sathyamoorthy.M, The Hindu.
Interaction with forest field staff
We spoke to Forest Range Officers of Bitherkadu, Pandalur and Cherambadi and personally met the Rapid Response team. We also interacted with local people. We could sense the tension between the field staff and people. It is basically blaming each other, terming people as encroachers and people blaming the forest officials for their inaction.
Forest Range officers were not aware of the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) standard operating procedures (SOP) or guidelines laid by the union government’s Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC) to deal with emergencies related to leopards and tigers.
The field staff with whom we interacted were part of a Rapid Response team(RRT). The field staff and RRT team members were of the opinion that all the protests from the people were related to appropriating land rights rather than addressing the issue of leopard attacks.
Mr. Kommu Omkaram, IFS
After several failed attempts to contact Mr. Kommu Omkaram, District Forest Officer(DFO), Gudalur division finally he spoke to Kannaiyan Subramaniam over phone on 17thJan,2024.
He provided the following information.
The rapid response team(RRT) of the forest department was deployed on 21st December, 2023. Camera traps were installed in several places to monitor and cages were placed in 5 places to catch the leopard.
There is no database maintained about leopard population unlike for Tigers.
The permission to tranquilize the leopard was obtained after 4th of January, 2024 and the problematic leopard was captured on 7th of January, 2024.
The veterinarian and forest staff faced life threatening challenges from the leopard during the operation.
The land issue is one of the key factors for the conflict in the division that needs decisions at a higher level in the government. According to the forest department, lands belonging to the forest department are encroached by people in large numbers and the matter is under the scrutiny of the judiciary
Elephant corridor obstructions by the wealthy people from neighbouring states is one of the key reasons for frequent elephant conflicts in the division
People's protest caused a lot of challenges to carry out the operation to catch the leopard.
He is easily accessible to people's representatives at any time to address any grievance related to his department.
Ms. S. Sivakami
We contacted Ms. S. Sivakami, Chairperson of Nelliyalam Municipality, has provided the following information.
She was not aware of the committee formed by the forest department to deal with leopard conflict.
She promised to address the lack of toilet facilities on priority basis in Saritha’s Elamanna and Thonga's Kotrikkal hamlets.
All the solid wastes collected in the Nelliyalam municipality are brought to the solid waste management facility in Ealmanna solid waste management dump yard and converted into manure. The process cycle takes around two months.
They have identified a location to construct new houses for all the inhabitants of Elamanna hamlet, where Saritha lived and where her family currently resides.
Mr. Jayaseelan, M.L.A
Mr. Jayaseelan, Member of Legislative Assembly told us that he joined the protest on 21st December, 2023 after the first phase of leopard attacks. The first phase of Leopard attack on three women was a clear sign of changing its character that was dangerous to human beings. Forest department should have given necessary permissions and taken all the steps to capture the leopard immediately. A delay in capturing the leopard led to the next phase of leopard attacks in which a child was injured on 4th January 2024 and another child was killed on 6th January 2024.
He also said that as human habitations are close to forest areas, human wildlife interactions are inevitable. But people should have basic amenities like approach roads to their hamlets, street lights, and toilet facilities in their homes. He was informed by the forest department about the capture of the leopard on 7th January, 2024. He went to Theppakadu in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve(MTR) and saw the captured leopard. He then pacified the protesting people and dispersed them. He welcomed the decision of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to increase the solatium from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs to the family of victims.
Ms. M.Shobha
Ms. M.Shoba, a social worker hailing from the tribal community told us that during the British period estates were formed and tribals were alienated from their lands and forced to live in the isolated low lying areas without basic amenities. Forest rights of tribals have to be settled according to The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act, 2006 (FRA). Due process of the FRA has to be followed to recognise the rights of people over forests.
She said that the forest areas are occupied by non native plantations like eucalyptus & pine and invasive species like lantana, parthenium, eupatorium, etc. Because of this change in forest areas, wild animals have less fodder and move near human habitations in search of food thus causing negative interactions between humans and wildlife.
Observations:
Leopard Attacks
Table 1 - Victims of Leopard Attack
Table 2 - Distance and Time difference of Leopard Attacks
Fig. 7 - Human Leopard Conflict Locations
The first phase of leopard attacks happened on 21st December, 2023. The leopard chose to attack women at three different places on the same day. In the first and second incidents, the leopard attacked women while they were in front of their houses. The third incident was an attack on an elderly woman in the tea garden in front of her house. All the three victims were women and two of them were elderly women.
The Hindu newspaper reported the incident as follows:
“Forest Department officials said that the three victims, Saradha, Durga and Valliamma, belonging to an Adivasi community in the CTRD tribal colony, near the Bitherkad Forest Range in Gudalur, had gone to a plot of revenue land near their village to defecate, when they were attacked by a leopard hiding amidst the undergrowth”.
The above statement of the officials is flawed and lacks truth.
The Hindu further reports as follows:
“Officials believe that the attack was accidental, and that the leopard could have attacked the trio as it felt threatened. However, they added that camera traps are to be placed in the area surrounding the negative interaction, and that a team of more than 20 forest department staff has been deployed in the area to monitor the situation.”
14 Days later the second phase of leopard attacks happened. On Jan 4 & 6, 2024 leopard attacks on children happened at two different places. The distance between the two places was about 2580 metres.
When analysing the gender of the victims, their age, attack locations and time period shows that the leopard deliberately attacked women in the first phase.
People Protests
People's protests started on Dec 21, 2023 after the first phase of leopard attacks. People demanded to capture the leopard immediately. We find the people's demand to secure the leopard to protect human beings was a very legitimate demand.
Only after the second phase of leopard attack and stern protests by the local people, the Forest department held combing operations to capture the leopard.
Leopard Capture
We were told by the forest officials a committee was formed to handle the emergency. But our observation and understanding on this matter is that it lacks clarity on its adherence to the National Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) standard operating procedures (SOPs). Committee only exists on paper.
In the 14 day period between first phase and second phase the probelamatic leopard was not captured. Camera traps and cages were kept after the first phase of attacks. We were told by the forest department that 4 different leopards were captured in camera traps kept in this area.
Permission to capture the problematic leopard should have been sought and granted immediately to secure the lives of the people as well as the leopard. The delay in granting permission for chemical tranquilization to catch the leopard was 14 days, leading to subsequent unfortunate incidents and unrest among the people. It also created panic among the public about leopards and tigers
First phase of attacks were seen as accidental attacks rather than as deliberate attacks. Due to this the combing operations were not held.
The veterinarians, Dr. Rajesh and Dr. Sadasivam,Dr.Vijayaragavan, from Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) and Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) respectively, along with trackers, Kumki elephant Bomman, mahout from Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), forest department staff, police personnel, and others who were part of the team scientifically tracked and captured the problematic leopard on the 7th of January 2024, 3.30 PM. They did a commendable job in a very short period under challenging situations.
Compensation Package
The emergency support for the injured is inadequate, and the disbursement mechanism undermines the fundamental purpose for which the support is intended.
The cheques were issued in the victims' names while they were undergoing treatment. Subsequently, they had to deposit the cheques in the bank and wait for them to be processed. In Kiruthika's case, the forest department dispersed the cheque several days after the incident, as the girl child resides in Bangalore.
Mr. A. Raja, Member of Parliament, representing the Nilgiris constituency, facilitated the air transportation of the mortal remains of the deceased child Nancy and her parents to Ranchi, Jharkhand. The Nilgiris district administration collaborated with the Jharkhand government to make the required arrangements. The child's body was embalmed at the Ooty government hospital before being transported to Jharkhand.
Mitigation Measures
There seems to be very little awareness and seriousness among the public in this area about the dangers posed by the problematic leopard.
Awareness through radio, local TV channels, public announcements, posters, etc., inadequate.
Joint meetings with public representatives, estate management, associations were not held.
Photographic comparison of stripes in the database of tigers maintained by NTCA makes it easy to compare and identify for capturing the problematic tiger. Capturing a specific problematic leopard is challenging, given the absence of a leopard database in the Gudalur forest division. This issue was acknowledged by Forest Department officials.
Tension exists for a very long period between the Forest Department and the public in Gudalur Forest Division primarily due to land ownership issues. This creates an unfavourable working situation for forest department staff.
The solid waste processing dump yard in Elamanna near the human habitation is one of the potential causes for the conflict.
Lack of toilet and sanitary facilities at tribal houses is a serious concern.
The damaged and common toilet facility without a toilet pit in Kotrikkal is a living example of corruption.
Mr. Mohanraj, working as an Anti-poaching Watcher(APW) in the forest department, bravely rescued Nancy, the injured child from the leopard. His bravery is highly appreciated.
A forest department official told us that they have warned about the problematic leopard issues and regularly advised the Parry Agro India private limitted on certain measures to be followed by them to safeguard their workers. We contacted Parry Agro India limited’s manager in Mango range estate Mr. Shivakumar to know their version. Despite our repeated requests over phone and email, they were reluctant to talk to us.
People's representatives, including Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Assembly, and Municipality Chairperson acted responsibly to the situation needs and have done commendable work.
The district collector visited the family and extended all the necessary support to the family.
Recommendations:
Tamil Nadu Forest Department should strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the National Tiger Reserve Authority (NTCA) and government guidelines when dealing with emergencies involving tigers and leopards. Local body representatives should be included in the technical committee to handle such emergencies.
Land rights of the tribal people have to be settled in accordance with the Forest Rights Act.
A comprehensive scientific database of leopards needs to be established.
Establish continuous camera surveillance for leopards and tigers to identify problematic animals to protect both animals and humans in vulnerable areas.
Programs need to be evolved and implemented to keep cattle in safe sheds in tiger-leopard ranges.
Open defecation in tiger and leopard ranges poses threat to life. Construction of toilet facilities in every household need to be ensured by The Nilgiris district administration and local bodies.
Relocate the solid waste management site in Elamanna to an area far away from the forest.
Take strict actions against those dumping chicken and animal wastes in open areas, including confiscation of their vehicles. The check posts in the Nilgiris district need to check every vehicle bringing poultry, meat and fish and other other wastes to be dumped in the districts and take strict action.
A rapid response mechanism needs to be set up under district collectors to provide victim care in case of wildlife attacks.
Victims of wildlife attacks need to be provided with treatment, including in private hospitals.
Urgently establish an advanced and specialised medical facilities in the taluk hospital of Gudalur to treat victims of wildlife attacks. Telemedicine support from specialised hospitals can also be arranged.
The trauma experienced by the victims of wild animal attacks, their families, and the community needs to be addressed through advanced medical treatment, adequate compensation, and appropriate counselling.
Wildlife awareness programs need to be undertaken in the Gudalur division.
Rumours should be dispelled during emergencies through radios and public-address systems to ensure a sense of security.
The rapid response team of the forest department needs to be strengthened by adding sophisticated vehicles, modern equipment, training, and staff.
A single-window system has to be established to facilitate the payment of compensation and solatium. Line departments of the government have to proactively provide the necessary certificates in a timely manner. A G.O. extending e-sevai facilities for easy and faster settlement of compensation and solatium is needed.
The assistance of Rs. 30,000/ provided to the victims by cheque in their respective names did not serve its emergency purpose due to the time required for depositing it in the bank and encashing the same. A solution needs to be identified to address this issue in the future. Delay in paying emergency assistance defeats the purpose.
Thiru. M.K.Stalin, The honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu's decision to raise the solatium for the families of those killed in wildlife attacks from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs.10 lakhs is welcomed. However, the solatium needs to be increased to Rs. 25 lakhs.
Thiru. M.K.Stalin, The honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is also urged to consider providing a solatium of Rs.One lakh each to all three injured victims considering their poor living conditions.
Measures to remove alien and invasive species by involving, encouraging and compensating tribal communities will restore the ecosystem and thus reduce the human-wildlife conflicts.
Conclusion:
This comprehensive report aims to provide detailed insights into the human-leopard conflict in Gudalur forest division, offering recommendations for long-term solutions to protect both wildlife and local communities.
Thalavady.
5th February 2024.
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