Human-panther conflicts in the Aravalli hills of Southern Rajasthan-A case study

Many recent scientific studies suggests that anthropogenic activities are increasing consistently especially due to mining and setting up of more number of associated industries in the Aravalli region of Southern Rajasthan.As a result,there is continuous loss of natural habitat and prey base for the carnivores. This is resulting into increased number of cases of human-panther conflicts, thereby adversely affecting both human-beings and panthers of this area. The present study is categorized broadly into two time periods before study period (2006 to 2013) and within study period (2014 to 2018). There is a peak in attacks on livestock during the 2015–2016 which strongly suggests that prolonged steady mining activity from 2006 to 2015 resulted into panthers targeting livestock which are maintained in human populated areas thereby increasing human-panther conflicts. The loss of panther's natural habitat and prey is enforcing their migration towards nearby villages and cropland areas targeting for easier prey. Loss of vegetation has created undesired situations of wildlife migration and simultaneously making them more vulnerable to the killing hands of poachers.All these collective anthropogenic activities have created ecological imbalance in the region of Aravallis. Being apex carnivore, protecting and conserving Indian panthers of this region will certainly assure the future existence of remaining forest and its floral and faunal biodiversity and wildlife in particular.