Attitude of local communities towards human-wildlife interactions and wildlife conservation in the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Thrissur, Kerala

A questionnaire survey was carried out among the local people and tribal communities in and around the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary in the Thrissur District of Kerala to understand the attitude towards human-wildlife interactions and wildlife conservation.Atotal of 60 respondents were interviewed, and the responses were recorded. Crop raiding was the most important result of the conflict, followed by cattle depredation. Conflicts in the study region were driven mainly by increased food availability in the forest fringes. The most conflicting animal was the wild boar (Sus scrofa), followed by the giant squirrel (Ratufa indica). Proper awareness programs, interactions among stakeholders, and participatory maintenance of mitigation methods are essential for the coexistence on the fringes of this protected area.