 |
The Durrell Trust for Conservation Biology
|
CV
PhD Research: The Socio-economics of Human-Tiger Conflict: Patterns, Perceptions and Impacts. Human-felid conflict (HFC) is of significant conservation concern for many of the world’s wild cat species and HFC management presents a considerable challenge to conservationists world-wide. In addition to the detrimental impact that retaliatory killings have on wild felid populations, it is recognised that HFC can have substantial detrimental economic, social and personal impacts on people. The human-dimensions of conflict therefore clearly warrant investigation and attention if conflict management initiatives are to be effective yet, the socio-economics of HFC remain poorly understood particularly in Asia, home to the world’s largest felid, the tiger (Panthera trigris). Tigers are involved in some of the most severe cases of HFC in the world due to their propensity to attack people in addition to livestock. Retaliatory killing of tigers by local people is a common response to loss of livestock and/or human life. Tackling retaliatory killing of tigers is integral to conservation efforts for tigers range-wide and, to ensure persistence of tigers, it is imperative that the human suffering that results from tiger presence is explored and addressed. Using a mixed methods approach this project seeks to address HFC knowledge gaps at both a global and local level by exploring the socio-economics of human-tiger conflict (HTC) in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. It will provide the first in-depth study of the full economic and social impacts of HFC on people, as well as exploring local peoples’ attitudes towards and perceptions of tigers and HTC in this region. Additionally, this research seeks to understand HTC and its impacts within the context of the wider ‘issue-landsacpe’ of the Sundarbans (i.e. the other factors that impact on peoples’ lives and livelihoods), to determine the spatio-temporal patterns of HTC in and around the Sundarbans and, to identify the conflict management and livelihood development tools most likely to increase local people’s tolerance for tigers in this area.
Funding ESRC-NERC Studentship
Publications Inskip, C. & Zimmermann, A. 2009. Human-felid conflict: a review of patterns and priorities Zimmermann, A., Baker, N., Linnell, J., Inskip, C., Marchini, S., Odden, J., Rasmussen, G., Teves, A. (in press) Human-carnivore conflicts on wild rangelands. In: Wild Rangelands: Conservation in the World’s Grazing Ecosystems. Eds. J du Toit, R. Kock & J. Deutsch. Blackwells, UK. |
