Human casualties are the dominant cost of human–wildlife conflict in India

摘要: Reducing the costs from human-wildlife conflict, mostly borne by marginal rural households, is a priority for conservation. We estimate mean species-specific cost households suffering damages one of 15 major species wildlife in India. Our data are survey 5,196 living near 11 reserves India, and self-reported annual include crop livestock losses human casualties (injuries death). By employing conservative estimates literature on value statistical life (VSL), we find that overwhelm all associated with fatalities. Farmers experiencing negative interaction an elephant over last year incur average 600 900 times those incurred farmers interactions next most costly herbivores: pig nilgai. Similarly, tiger damage 3 inflicted leopard 100 wolf. These differences largely driven incidence death casualties. fluctuates across reserves, due to variation Understanding drivers reducing their crucial conflict.Most tales were about animals, Jungle was always at door. The deer grubbed up crops, now again carried off man twilight, within sight village gates. "Tiger! Tiger!" (Rudyard Kipling, Book, Collins Classics, 2010).