Biodiversity conservation in Indian Sundarban in the context of anthropogenic pressures and strategies for impact mitigation

Abstract

The present study revealed that human-crocodile conflict is a low key affair whereas the information on human-shark conflict is almost non-existent. The data on human crocodile conflict from 1999 to 2009 revealed that a total of 29 persons were attacked by crocodiles, in which 12 people were killed and 13 were seriously injured. A total of 13 crocodile straying incidences were recorded during this period. The analysis of result of human-crocodile conflict reveals that it is restricted to the areas where tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) seed collection is carried out. The tiger prawn seeds are collected mainly by women and children, who wade through water and drag fine net and in the process often become victims of crocodile attacks.