! "# $ $ ! % & # &$! "# '!( ! % & ! ! )* + ,* $ !-! . $ /* 0 , !! ! " !! !! '. $( ! " * ! ! "# $% & $ ' (&(%)* & "+(&(%)* & "+ ! !"#$% & #" ' ! ( ' ) *+" ' # # +*,-." /% 0 )%1% / 2-*3 & # " ' ! ( ' ) # # 2-*3 An Assessment of Human-Crocodile Conflict Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation in National Chambal Sanctuary, M.P., India Rajesh Kumar Gurjwar and R.J. Rao About Authors Mr. Rajesh Kumar Gurjwar Perusing Ph.D. from School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior (M.P.) India. He has completed M.Sc. and M.Phil. (Zoology) from the same university. He has published many research papers in national and international journals. His area of Wildlife conservation and management, Conservation Biology and Limnology. Addresh for correspondence: Mr. Rajesh Kumar Gurjwar Researh Scholar, Conservation Biology Lab, School of Studies in Zoology Jiwaji University, Gwalior-474011 M.P. India Mobile No. +918269539681 E-mail: [email protected] Professor R J Rao completed his B.Sc. (1976) from Andhra University, M.Sc. (1978) and Ph.D. (1984) from Bhopal University. After submitting his Ph.D. thesis he joined Wildlife Institute of India as Research Fellow to conduct post-doctoral research work on Ecology of aquatic animals in the National Chambal Sanctuary. He joined School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior in January 1989. He has completed research projects from MOEF, UGC, MOA, MPCST, UNDP-GOI, GCA, and DEC. His field of research is primarily on Wildlife Biology and Management and other research interests are Conservation Biology, Environmental Impact Assessment, Zoo management, Conservation and management of Aquatic resources, Human Ecology etc. He has supervised a number of Ph.D., M. Phil. and PG students. Dr. Rao has published many research papers in National and internationally reputed journals. He organized several scientific programmes like seminars, conferences, workshops, training programmes. He is member of several International and National committees and organizations. Addresh for correspondence: Prof. R.J. Rao Rector, Jiwaji University, Gwalior-474011, M.P., India E-mail: [email protected] Mobile No. +91 9826255137 Preface Conflicts between humans and Crocodiles are a serious problem in many parts of the world. Human-Crocodile conflicts are common phenomena from the past and have become significant problem throughout the world. Therefore, frequent encounters with humans and their livestock have caused human-crocodile conflicts which result in retaliation killings. An Assessment of Human-Crocodile Conflict (Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation in National Chambal Sanctuary, M.P., India) is a humble effort in this direction. The book is a compilation of various chapters written by Me. First and foremost I would like to pay my deepest sense of gratitude to the Almighty God for granting me the wisdom and forbearance to accomplish this piece of research work. It is indeed a great privilege for me to acknowledge my deep sense of gratitude to my worthy guide, Prof. R.J. Rao, for his valuable guidance, inspiring attitude and constant encouragement without which the present work would have been impossible. I am thankful to all my friends/collogues Mr. Ramkumar Lodhi, Satyanarayan Rawat, Nasrullah Ahad, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, Fozia Mazeed and Yogesh Kumar who have suggested in this book. It is a matter of great pleasure to publish their valuable work in this book. A large number of people helped me in the completion of this book. I am thankful to Mr. S.C. Bhadoria (S.D.O), Research Range Officer Dr. R.K. Sharma and Range Officer Shri Sukhdev Sharma, Research Assistant in the National Chambal Sanctuary for help during the field studies. I specially thankful to all field staffs Jyoti Dandotiya, Shri Jagdish Batham and Dinesh Sharma. Many more deserve a lot of thanks but, it is space that compels me to stop here. Thanking each and every person who raise their hands before GOD for me and remember me in their well wishes. Mr. Rajesh Kumar Gurjwar Prof. R.J. Rao Particulars Page No. 1 Q` :GCV 1 Q`1$%`V 1 Q`C: V .:] V`7JJ `QR%H 1QJ Q%I:J`QHQR1CVQJ`C1H R .:] V`7 "`1V`#V01V1Q``QHQR1CV:JRQ%`VHQ7 VI R .:] V`7*: V`1:C:JR*V .QR T 88, %R7`V:7 888.:IG:C#10V` 888-: 1QJ:C.:IG:C,:JH %:`7 888.VQCQ$1H:CV: %`V 888*:J:$VIVJ 88 8, %R7,1 V 88 8*V .QRQCQ$7 .:] V`70GV`0: 1QJ T 88`QHQR1CV]VH1V7 888:%J:CR10V`1 77 888Q]%C: 1QJ1<VQ``QHQR1CV7 88`QHQR1CV:G1 : 7 888C1I: V 88`QHQR1CV"V.:01Q%`7 888":@1J$GV.:01Q%`7 888-V 1J$GV.:01Q%`7 88%I:J4VIQ$`:].1H]`Q`1CV7 8 8%I:JH 101 1V7 8 88,:JRI1J1J$7 8 881.1J$7 8 88$`1H%C %`:CL1QQRHQCCVH 1QJ7 8 88: V`RV0VCQ]IVJ :H 101 7 8 8 80 .V`:H 101 1V7 8 8JH1RVJ Q`H`QHQR1CV: :H@7 8 8 1I1J$Q`H`QHQR1CV: :H@7 8 8: :C1 1V7 8 8V`HV] 1QJQ``V1RVJ 88QI]VJ: 1QJ7 .:] V` 741H%1QJ R .:] V` 7QJHC%1QJ:JR#VHQIIVJR: 1QJ R .:] V` 7,%II:`7 R .:] V` 7#V`V`VJHV T ]]VJR16R R Table No. Contents Page No. Table 1 Major faunal species of the sampling villages 30 Table 2 Size of crocodiles at various sites 31 Table 3 Climatic condition of the study area 34 Population male-female ratio and literacy rate of sampling Table 4 40 villages Table 5 Major Accidents in the selected villagers 55 - 57 Temporal frequency of various accidents in different Table 6 58 villages Table 7 Percentage of injury and death to live stocks 59 Perception of residents about the presence of crocodile in Table 8 the area 60 Discomfort to people due to various activities of crocodile Table 9 61 Awareness about crocodile behaviour Table 10 63 Table of (Human crocodile conflict) in Record of Deori Table 11 Range in the National Chambal Sanctuary. 64 -65 Fig. No. Contents Page No. Figure 1 Map of National Chambal Sanctuary showing 17 multipurpose dam on the upper stream, Tributaries and study sites in the present study. Figure 2 Showing the Study site: Bilpur to Used Ghat in 25 National Chambal Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh. Figure 3 Size of crocodiles at various sites 31 Figure 4 Climatic condition in different months 35 Figure 5 Bilpur/kithiyana to kisrouli 41 Figure 6 Beech ka pura to Daljeet ka pura 41 Figure 7 Sukhdhyan ka pura to Nohara 42 Figure 8 Basdev ka pura to Nayapura (Usedghat) 42 Figure 9 Injury and death to live stocks 59 Figure 10 Percentages of Negatively affected peoples in the 60 study area Figure 11 Discomfort activities of people 61 Figure 12 Awareness about crocodile behaviour 63 Plate No. Plate Plate 1a Gharial and Mugger basking on a Sand Island. Plate 1b Gharial basking on a sand bank. Plate 2a Chambal River showing different habitat types Plate 2b Mid-river Sand Island most suitable for basking and nesting of turtles and birds Plate 3a Chambal River showing different habitats- Sand bank on one side and hard soil on other side Plate 3b A long Sand bank on the Chambal River used for basking and nesting by turtles and crocodiles Plate 4a Mugger basking on the Chambal River Plate 4b Mugger basking on rocks in the Chambal River Plate 5a Crocodiles basking in the vegetation along the Chambal River camouflaging themselves which sometimes results into attack on animals and human Plate 5b Gharial basking on mid-river Sand Island Plate 6a Nesting site of gharials in the Chambal River at babusingh ki gher Plate 6b Few eggs from gharial nest excavated by locals Plate 7a Sand mining activity and mugger basking at Chambal River Plate 7b Sand mining on the bank of Chambal River Plate 8a Locals extract water from Chambal River for agriculture on the River bank Plate 8b Agricultural production on the River bank by local villagers Plate 9 Water extraction at Rajghat Plate 10a River side villagers are engaged in washing, bathing and collection of drinking water from the Chambal River Plate 10b Locals frequently visit the river along with their domestic animals Plate 11a Bathing of cattle in the Chambal River an easy victim of crocodiles Plate 11b Cattle found to river side village on the river bank Plate 12a Goats drinking and grazing on the River bank on easy target to crocodiles Plate 12b People crossing the Chambal River on a temporary bridge Plate 13a Transportation on boats by river side villages is a frequent activity Plate 13b Transportation on boats by river side villagers Plate 14a Camel crossing the Chambal River. People transport goods on Camels Plate 14b Buried ground on the river bank at Rajghat, Dholpur. People throw dead bodies of children in the River, which attracts turtles and crocodiles that feed the dead bodies Plate 15a Locals engaged in different activities like bathing, tilling, and water extraction on the river banks Plate 15b A boy is crossing in the evening time in the Chambal River Plate 16a Showing crocodile attack on a calf at Mallahan ka pura Plate 16b A Buffalo attacked by a mugger at Ramgadh village Plate 17 R Chapter 1 An Introduction to Human Crocodile Conflict Conflicts between humans and animals are a serious problem in many parts of the world. The damage and destruction caused by a variety of animals to human property-and sometimes to human life-is a real and significant danger to many human communities and with the animals often killed, captured, or otherwise harmed in retaliation, these conflicts are one of the main threats to the continued survival of many species. WWF views human- animal conflict as a priority issue for its work on species protection (WWF, 2006). Human-Crocodile conflicts are common phenomena from the past and have become significant problem throughout the world.