Twenty years ago, led by Dr. Krithi Karanth, CWS research expanded focus to understand human-wildlife interactions, particularly conflict. We have conducted in depth field based research in over 3000 villages and more than twenty sites in India and Nepal. These studies have uncovered a variety of interactions, species involved, underlying patterns and drivers of conflict, mitigation techniques adopted to protect crops, properties and lives, and impacts of translocating wildlife. We have examined compensation policies and payments, as well as perceptions of different stakeholders including local communities, government and the media.
Our research created knowledge which has initiated policy changes and on-ground conservation interventions through programs like Wild Seve, Wild Shaale and Wild Surakshe. Fundamentally facilitating changing perceptions and attitudes towards conflict-prone species such as elephants, leopards, tigers and sloth bears. Our multidisciplinary efforts have produced over 30 peer-reviewed publications which have inspired other work globally. Having worked in multiple landscapes with various agencies and people across the country, we are working on identifying multidisciplinary approaches to promote human-wildlife coexistence that allow wildlife to persist amidst a billion people.
