Impact of wildlife on food crops and approaches to reducing human wildlife conflict in the protected landscapes of Eastern Nepal

Human wildlife conflict (HWC) represents a growing concern for the agro-pastoral community living near protected areas. We investigated the effects of crop damage by wild animals on the food security of local households and explored potential solutions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with 250 households and 21 key informant interviews around the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Our results revealed that 96% of the respondents had experienced conflicts with wild animals, of which 66% reported rice as a major damaged crop. Annually, 320 kg of rice per household was damaged, which is equivalent to one-third of the annual consumption for each household in the study area. Wild elephants were the key contributors (62%) to this damage. To mitigate HWC, 59% respondents suggested construction of concrete walls around the affected areas. In addition, mobilization of the local community in conservation stewardship helps reduce HWC.