India’s Carnivore Conservation

A megafauna bias in India’s carnivore research is hampering the country’s conservation efforts.

Carnivore research in India is overly focused on more prominent species, resulting in a lack of awareness of smaller and lesser-known predators.
This knowledge gap is impeding conservation efforts in the country.

Carnivores dominate the food web and play an important role in preserving ecological balance.
Despite their importance, carnivores are among the world’s most endangered mammals.
As a result, significant research and conservation resources are committed internationally to understanding, conserving, and managing carnivore populations.

Overview
- India is home to 23% of the world’s carnivore population, which includes 60 different species.
- A study of studies published since 1947 reveals that the influence of the country’s 70 years of research on charismatic species on their conservation status and policy has been inadequate.
- The country’s carnivore literature is dominated by the wild cat family, particularly the tiger.
- Other top carnivores receiving significant research attention are the Indian leopard, golden jackal, dhole, and jungle cat.
- Unfortunately, the overall quality of research on smaller and less charismatic carnivores has been weak.

Scientific studies on tigers resulted in the creation of Project Tiger in 1973, which aided in building 50 tiger reserves around the country.
In litigation, research has presented evidence against the construction or development of roadways through tiger habitats such as;
- Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the Kanha-Pench Tiger Corridor, and the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.

The ambitious Ken-Betwa River interlinking project, which is expected to submerge a large chunk of the core region of Madhya Pradesh’s Panna Tiger Reserve, has been challenged by research findings.
The study of the Indian leopard resulted in national recommendations for reducing human-leopard conflict.
The country’s carnivore literature is dominated by the wild cat family, particularly the tiger.
Other top carnivores that have attracted significant research attention include the Indian leopard, golden jackal, dhole, and jungle cat.
However, research on smaller and less charismatic carnivores has been largely poor.

India has a diverse biome.
It is one of 17 megadiverse countries on the planet.
India is home to thousands of different animal species.
On the other hand, some species are visually pleasing and easy to identify. Some species, such as the Royal Bengal Tiger, are known as charismatic megafaunas.
Seven vulnerable species of India’s charismatic megafauna are discussed in this article.
Threatened species are those that are on the verge of extinction and so require conservation efforts.

Wetland and grassland ecosystem conservation remain low priorities.
- It provides sanctuary to highly endangered animals such as the caracal, which is also overlooked in research and protection.
Natural history studies, the fundamental stepping stone to understanding species ecology, are declining.
- It is exacerbated by a fall in journals that publish such studies.
Political factors and wrong priorities frequently influence policies, and scientific advice is ignored.
Carnivore literature lacks integrative investigations.
- It impedes the formulation of socio-ecologically responsive policy.
To help non-government organisations and independent researchers, bureaucratic barriers must be removed.

Funding for studies into smaller and less charismatic carnivores has been increased to boost their profile.
Additionally, India’s conservation policies emphasise their sensitive and threatened habitats.
Multidisciplinary research using a collaborative and constructive approach that involves communities to promote socio-ecologically aware policy.
Frameworks such as biodiversity heritage sites established under the Indian Biological Diversity Act (2002) or community reserves based under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
They aid in maintaining socio-ecological systems by encouraging local stewardship and, ultimately, democratising carnivore research.

Pic Courtesy: Down to Earth

Content Source: Down to Earth