Patterns of livestock predation risk by large carnivores in India’s Eastern and Western Ghats

摘要: Abstract Large scale spatial patterns of livestock predation risk from multiple co-predators are fundamental to applied conservation planning. Here, we examined important ecological, social, and landscape attributes explaining human-carnivore interactions. We used a systematic grid-based framework, across an area 14,200 km2 sixteen Forest Divisions at the human-wildlife interface encompassing Protected Areas, Reserved Fringe Areas in Eastern Western Ghats, India. The data was collected on depredation incidents tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard pardus), dhole (Cuon alpinus) for past five years, through semi-structured interviews (n = 1460) local communities. socio-ecological (i.e. abundance forest dependency) cover, climates topographic) influencing events each carnivore species. found that by tiger, driven size species, dependency people forest, topography, proximity water body boundary, precipitation, cover. Risk exhibited high overlap, leopards higher than tiger. Livestock frequent open areas buffer zones, while occurred densely forested core regions (PAs). Our predictive maps (ca. 22,525 km2) showed species-specific patterns, reflected ecological differences among large carnivores with regards their habitat partitioning domestic prey. map factors associated predations provides powerful visual guidance tools PA managers developing multi-species conflict mitigation strategies. recommend diversifying economic livelihoods benefit-sharing options communities minimize dependency.