Human-Wildlife Conflict : Human-Wildlife Conflict in Buffer Zone Area: A Study of Banke National Park, Nepal

This Master's dissertation assesses the various aspects of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in Buffer zone area of Banke National Park with the objective of exploring impact of human-wildlife conflict in the study area. Ethnographic data were collected using combination of social survey methods. Crop depredation was the major problem caused by the wild animals. Most destructive wild animals were Wild Boar, Monkey, Porcupine, and Wild Bear. Most respondents believed that the populations of these problem animals were increasing and incident of human-wildlife conflict was also increasing. Among crops, the damage to Maize was high. A total average damage of Maize per year per HH was 583.4 Kg. Economic value of average annual damage per year per HH accounted for NRs, 11709.35. Nearly 70% responded that the poor availability of food in the forest was the main problem for regular movement of wild animal. Loud vocal sound by the people was the common method for chasing the wild animals. Promotion of alternative income generating livelihood program, environmental awareness campaign can reduce the HWC indirectly through decreasing the dependency in forest resources.