Crop Damages by Wild Animals Global View Country Report and Reviews in 1-10 Sections

Crop Damage by Wild Animalssection i				nippon population in eastern Hokkaido,
general discussions				Japan, increased rapidly during 1990-1998
G.M. Wani				. This increase appeared to have halted
Ph.D ; D.V.M (Germany)				in 1999-2000, probably due to increased
FN ISSGAPU, FN DAAD				hunting and nuisance control. The period
Director Extension Education / SAMETI				of rapid increase was associated with a
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural				disproportionately rapid increase in
Sciences and Technology of Kashmir				compensation paid for deer damage to
Shalimar, Srinagar, 191121				crops. We studied changes in diet during
�				1990-2000, as reflected by stable isotope
�				ratios of C and N in tooth collagen. We
�				hypothesized that isotope ratios would
A brief global review to asses the damage				demonstrate dietary shifts related to
caused to cultivated crops by wild				population levels and/or time, and that
animals around the world. The review was				shifts in isotope ratios would be
attempted in response to a recommendation				consistent with increasing individual�
of ICAR Regional Committee No.1 held in				consumption of pasture grasses at higher
Oct, 2007 at Solan, H.p. presided over by				population levels, delta 13C isotope
Hon'ble Director General, ICAR Dr.				ratios of tooth collagen in 3 year-old
Mangala Rai inauguration was chaired by				sika indicated a diet dominated by C3
Hon'ble Agriculture Minister J&K, Jenab				plants throughout the period, and that
Ab. Aziz Zargar.				forage species other than pasture grasses
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �				and dwarf bamboo Sasa nipponica ( the
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �				main crop and woodland understory
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �				plants,� respectively) were important
Author				elements. There was a significant decline
�				in the delta 13C isotope ratio during�
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �				1990-2000 in both males and females,
� � � � � � � � � � � � � �				delta 15N values showed no trend with
�				time for males, but increased over time
�				in females. Indices of population
�				(Sightings per Unit Effort, SPUE) were
Published by:� Director State				negatively correlated with female delta
Agricultural Management and Extension				13C, and positively correlated with
Training Institute of Kashmir (SAMETI-K)				female delta 15N, values indicating a
, SKUAST-K , Shalimar , Post Box: 461,				shift in diet over the period ,
G.P.O, Srinagar.				especially among females. This shift may
�				be related to population and/or offtake
�				levels, in particular� the rapid
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �				increase in female offtake for nuisance
Publication No: SAMETI/Pub/3/1000				control and hunting during the period.
January, 2008				The data are consistent with a relative
�				increase in pasture grass consumption per
�				individual at higher population levels,
�				however, other� explanations of the data
P.O.Box: 461, GPO, Srinagar, E.Mail: � �				are equally plausible. Possible dietary
� � � � � � � Phone:� � � � � �				changes, and other factors, influencing
0194-2461317,0194-2463460,0194-2463459�				the observed shift in isotope ratios are
� � � � � � � � � Cell: � � � � � � �				discussed. Although statistically
09419095342� ;				significant, the magnitude of dietary
Residence:0194-2431508,2435741				shifts� nevertheless appeared small, and
�				did not provide evidence which would
�				justify modifying the current policy, of
�				limiting crop damage through managed
Introduction:				population reduction to about 25% of peak
�				levels( Halley et al 2006).
� � � � � � Wild animal-human conflicts				�
have started since beginning of human era				12.� White-tailed deer damages
from Adam and Eve. This conflict of				� � � � � � � � � White-tailed deer
wilderness made man to hide in caves and				(Odocoileus virginianus) may cause more
he was called as "Cave man". Slowly, with				damage than any other species of
his advancement it is he who invented Axe				wildlife. These damages include crop
and other weapon in stone and iron ages				loss, automobile and aviation collisions,
to frighten the wild animals, initially.				disease transmission, environmental
Later on he hunted them to save himself.				degradation, and destruction of
This feeling of uncertainty and fear of				ornamental� plantings. One practical
wild animals and wilderness reduced with				method of controlling deer damage is the
the invention of fire. He made sharp				use of exclusionary fences. The
weapons of bones and iron. These initial				relatively high cost of labor and
weapons were the beginning of this				materials required to build effective
conflict, Animal human conflict.				fences has limited most applications to
Thirty thousand years ago, the human				the protection of orchards, vegetable
population rose to 6 million. They were				farms, other high -value resources, and
still hunters. With the invention of				mitigation of human health and safety
fire, he set fire a vast majority of				risks. Improvements in fence technology
sanctuaries, which scared wild life and				resulting in less expensive, yet
they migrated from his neighborhood. Many				effective fence have expanded the use of
forests, hills and difficult terrains				fence to manage damage caused by deer.
were still beyond the reach of man three				Fence typically installed to manage
thousand years before, although human				white-tailed deer damage include wire or
population has increased to 60 million.				plastic mesh, electrified high-tensile
Man has already started primitive				steel wire, and electrified polytape or
agriculture. He had made his terrains and				polyrope fence. They reviewed the
wild life scared by him left his close				scientific literature on fencing to
habitats and searched for fresh abodes.				determine which fence designs would be
Man by now had lust for fur, horns,				the most effective for excluding deer in
ornaments and other forest resources. He				a variety of situations (VerCauteren et
invented many means to frighten whole				al 2006).
wild life. He became a "Danger "not only				� � � � � � � � � The installation of
for wild animals but for his own species,				fences to protect agricultural products,
environment and eco-biodiversity.				natural resources, or other areas from
Three hundred years ago he industrialized				deer (Odocoileus spp.) can be expensive
crop production and produced enough food,				and potential benefits of fencing are
for nearly 600 million people. This				difficult to quantify. A rational method
continued and from 30 year now he is				is needed to help evaluate whether
feeding 6000 million people. Today we				fencing can be cost effective and which
have a global food security for 7.5				fence designs will be optimal for
billion. Human food security gains				particular applications. They describe an
resulted in reduction of all other wild				interactive, dynamic simulation model
species, thus, the origin of wild- life-				that conducts economic analyses and
human conflict is the lust of man for				predicts economic benefit associated with
more food, more luxury or sometimes fun				fences for crops relative to area and
for hunting or fur. This reduced wild				perimeter of protected plot, value of
life reserves and now a open conflict				crop, percentage of crop damaged by deer
came into existence.				annually prior to fencing, efficacy of
Many man-wild life conflicts have been				fence, and costs of fence materials and
reported from Gir forests of Gujarat,				labor. Users of the model can easily
Rajaji National Park in UP and many other				adjust these variables to fit their
states where forest lands became				individual situations and needs. By
cultivable lands. Elephants, wild boars,				running a series of simulations, model
monkeys, squirrels, deer , birds like				users can answer questions related
crows, parakeets, wild dogs, jackals,				directly to fence efficacy and
gaur, sambur, langure, fowls, pea cocks,				cost-effectiveness (VerCauteren K et al
neilgai, Hippos, biats, blackbirds,				2006).
rodents, wild pigs, feral species,				�
primates, beetles, foxes, pigeons, feral				13. Corn damage by wild life
hogs and a variety of other species				� � � � � � � � � Corn damages in USA
damage crops. The carnivores even attack				were estimated at 6.6 per hac due to wild
human too. These attacks are for search				life. The white tailed deer was the wild
of food or their loss of habitat. Many				animal responsible for loss. The average
such accidents came to be known in Jammu				hacters owned by farmers were 125 out of
and Kashmir. The bear leopod and other				which 55 hectares were sown corn.
wild animals are reducing in number.				(Tzilkowsi et al 2002).
Their habitats used by human.				�
The human causalities are due to				14. � Deer Damage
carnivorous species, but herbivores				� � � � � � � � � Deer (Odocoileus spp.)
inflict economic and human losses too.				can cause substantial damage to
The crop damages by wild life has been				agricultural crops, resulting in economic
the new threat to agricultural				losses for producers. They developed a
productivity throughout the world. This				deer activated bio-acoustic frightening
also concerns us in Asia and India. This				device to reduce white-tailed deer (O,
review is aimed to find out:				virginianus) damage in agricultural
1.� � � � � � Extent of damage to crops.				fields. The device considered of an
2.� � � � � � Nature of crop damage				infrared detection system that activated
3.� � � � � � Ways and means to prevent				an audio component which broadcast
these losses.				recorded distress and alarm calls of
4.� � � � � � A strategic planning to				deer. They tested the device against
drive a line between wildlife				unprotected controls in cornfields during
conservation and farm economics				the silking-tasseling stage of growth in
especially in India.				July 2001. The device was not effective
�				in reducing damage: track-count indices
Executive Abstracts and Strategic				(F1,4=0.02), corn yield
elementaries: [EASE]				(F1,9=1.27,P=0.289), and estimated damage
1.� � � � Importance				levels (F1,10=0.87, P=0.374) did not
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �				differ between experimental and control
Species causing crop damages ranges from				fields. The size (F2,26=1,00,P=0.380),
elephant's wild birds, monkeys,				location (F2,25=0.39,P=0.684), and
squirrels, deer, parakeet, wild dogs,				percent overlap (F2,25=0.20,P=0.818) of
foxes, deer and many others like Neilgai.				use-areas of radiomarked female deer did
On an average this damage to crops by				not differ between during and after
wild animals amounts to U$ 961 per				treatment periods. They concluded that
hectare. It is much more than an Indian				the deer-activated bio-acoustic device
Farmer earns from a hacter annually.				was not effective in protecting
Therefore, by these estimates, the				cornfields in this study; however, the
damages are spectacular and economically				device may be more effective in small
important.				areas such as gardens or for high value
2.� � � � � � Human Elephant conflicts				crops that do not grow tall enough to
(HEC):				offer protective cover (Gilsdorf et al
� � � � � � � � � i) Economic Losses:				2004).
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �				� � � � � � � � � White -tailed deer
Among elephants crop raiding is common.				(Odocoileus virginianus) cause millions
The crops near their home ranges are				of dollars of damage to agricultural
damaged more. Elephants damaging crops				crops annually . They tested the
had twice big ranges than those who did				effectiveness of propane exploders and
not damage the crops. Thus, more				Electronic Guards (Pocatello Supply
proximity of the crops near their ranges				Depot, Pocatello, Id). For reducing deer
are prone to crops damages. Train				damage in corn fields during the
accidents instigate elephants more to				silking-tasseling stage of growth.
crop or human damages. Indonesia saw more				Track-count indices (F2,7=0.70,P=0.532),
frequent raids of elephants on crops.				corn yield (F2,6=0.14, P=0.873), and
Human elephant conflict (HEC) is frequent				estimated damage levels (F2, 12=1,45
and poses serious challenges in Africa.				P=0.272) did not differ between
Both male groups and family group attacks				experimental and control fields. The size
have been observed. HEC losses in West				(F2,11=0.08,P =0.924), Location�
Bengal were worth 3.2 croses of Rupees.				(F2,9=0.30, P=0.750), and percent overlap
This damage occurred in 3368sq				(F2,9=0.46, P=0.644) of use -areas of
kms.radius. The numerical number of				radiomarked female deer in the vicinity
elephants was 62 only. Assam observes				of experimental fields did not differ�
damages to the woodcutters by elephants				among before, during and after 18 day
Asian wild Elephants raid and damage				treatment periods. In a related study, we
crops in herds of 10-13 individuals or				placed propane exploders in cornfields
big herds comprising 50-74 elephants. In				within use-areas of 12 radiomarked female
Darjeeling district alone over an area of				deer. The deer did not react appreciably
200 kms. East to west, in last two				to the devices; the size (F2, 17=0.08,
decades 277 houses were demolished by				P=0.921), location (F2,22=1.37, P=0.275),
elephants, killing 66 people in 5				and percent overlap (f2,10=0.47, P=0.636)
districts. As a result of this conflict				of deer use areas did not differ among
23 elephants lost their lives. In 2001,				before, during, and after 14 day
economic loss of the order of US fifty				treatment periods. They conclude that
thousand dollars was estimated to be				propane exploders and Electronic Guards
inflicted by elephants. This scenario				have limited potential for reducing deer
necessitates comprehensive measures to be				damage to corn at the silking-tasseling
taken to lessen these damage. The review				stage (Glisdorf et al 2004l.
of the measures, around the world suggest				�
following few studies to be undertaken				� � � � � � � � � A welfare measure for
and resultant measures to be applied to				wildlife damage to Ontario (Canada) field
lessen these damages.ii)� � � �				crop producers during the 1998 was. The
Mitigation of losses:				welfare measure presented in this study
� � � � � � � � � Methods developed and				provides a more accurate picture of
used to mitigate crop damages by				losses from wildlife damage to
elephants consisted of frightening of				agricultural. Other damage estimates
animals by drum beating, firegracks or				based on yield loss overstate the damage
even air gun fires. Guarding the crops by				since benefits from wildlife are netted
fences or even using electric fencing or				out. Results for the Ontario field crop
raising poles and wiring may be				producers indicate that the magnitude of
effective. Chemical based deterrents, and				the difference between the value of the
electric fencing have been found to				yield loss and the welfare measure of
reduce crop damages. High voltage				damage is approximately 50%. This
electric fencing using energizers in west				difference indicates that most farmers
have prevented wild animals damaging crop				were willing to tolerate the wildlife
but this preposition may not be				damage they experienced (Heigh et al
applicable in areas where even				2001).
habitations do not have access to				�
electricity. However, this method may act				15. Grapevine damages
as a temporary boundary separating wild				� � � � � � � � � In field trials in
and domestic habitats. This could prevent				1999-2000 in Gundla Pochampally, Andhra
intrusions from sly vatic to domestic				Pradesh, India , the incidence of damage
foci. Guarding fields, digging trenches,				to green grapevines was studied. Visits
modifying cropping patterns have a				to the vines by bats begain around 45
possibility of reducing man elephant				minutes after sunset and foraging
conflicts or Human elephant conflicts. A				continued until 1 hour� before sunrise.
30% open space between two habitats may				Damage occurred to ripe fruit only, and
help to avoid HEC. This means a distance				increased around harvesting time,
to be maintained between cropping fields				percentage damage ranged from 0 to 100%
and elephant habitates. A proper				(Bhargavi et al, 2001).
investigation on these lines is needed. A				�
grid based geographical information				16. � � Hippo damage
system (GIS) with a 25Km2 resolution may				� � � � � � � � � The introduction to
help to have cost effective data source				the paper described the various
to analyze these situations. There is				ecological effects known to result from
urgent need of identifying spatial				grazing, movement along paths, and
predictors of HEC. On the basis of this				wallowing by the common hippo.
study one can suggest or plan mitigation				Hippopotamus amphibious. The study
strategies, early warnings of attacks,				reported was carried out at Kainji Lake
use of barriers and deterrents. The				National Park., Nigeria, during � the dry
utility of the methods could be assessed				season periods {of 1991 and 1992} . The
for land use and livelihood strategies to				method adopted by Agnew, A.D.Q. (East
limit HEC.				African Wildlife Journal (1966) 4, 38-46)
�				was used to assess hippo foraging
3.� � � � � � Dear-Nilgai Damages.				footprints at three hippo pool sites. A
� � � � � � � � � A survey of 2500 farms				total of 32 footpaths were enumerated out
in UK revealed that 69% (n=192) cereal				of which 18 were located at Kaii hippo
crops were damaged by deer. This damage				pool site, while the frequency of
costed £500 per annum per farm. Damages				utilization of paths was also higher for
varied with deer density. In USA too deer				this site relative to those in other
damages comprised of crop loss, landscape				area. The upstream-downstream trend in
damages, car accidents and property				hippo occupancy of dry � season water
damages. Nilgai damages alongwith deer				pools could expose the hippo to crop
damages are common in India too. Tree				damage conflicts at the peripheral areas.
cover of Acacia in the area is generally				�
used as shelter by Nilgai. We have				17.� Hygo-Japan-mammal crop damages
encountered huge crop damage in Mathura				�
(CIRG) and nearby area by Nilgai visits.				� � � � � � � � � Mammals inhabiting �
Grazing and browsing of Nilgai inflict				Hyogo consist of seven orders, 17
losses on farms. This is regarded as a				families and about 40 species. Except for
mammalian crop threat by the farmers.				Lagomorpha and� Artiodactyla, the
This behaviour of their inflict ozone				remaining five orders among them include
injury to the young sapling, so precious				species which need some protection and
for the growth of trees in Indian				they total about 55% of all species
semi-arid farms.				excluding extinct, introduced and feral
�				species. Ecological information in Hyogo
� � � � � � � � � Corn damages by deer				prefecture has been accumulated in few
in USA amounts to 6.6.% per hectare. In				protection-required species there is no
an area where a farmer owned 125 hectare				recent information of spatial
on an average 55 hectares were used to				distribution on Oriental water-shrew,
sow corn. There is a 6.6% loss of the				Japanese noctule-bat and Japanese
product which is a huge economic loss.				dormouse; and little information on
Similar damages by deer in Ontario,				Japanese shrew, Japanese horse-shoe bat,
Canada, Portugal, Japan, South America				Japanese large -footed bat. Schreiber's
and other parts of the world have been				bent-winged bat, Japanese tube-nosed bat,
reviewed. In Virginia too a study				common parti-colored bat, Japanese
involving 1506 agricultural producer				squirrel, Japanese small flying-squirrel,
farmers revealed 58% of them experiencing				Japanese giant flying-squirrel, smith's
deer damages. Ways and means to prevent				vole harvest mouse and Japanese badger.
such attacks on crops have been reviewed.				Damage and population managements is also
Most of the possible measures to be				necessary in sika deer and Japanese wild
adopted are similar to these described				boar, to reduce their crop--damaging, and
for elephants (HEC).				comprehensive management in Japanese
�				black bear, an endangered local
4.� � � Other Mammal and bird damages				population, to prevent human-bear fatal
�				accident. Habitat alteration due to human
� � � � � � � � � Monkey damages maize,				activities, however, has affected the
sweet potato and other crops. It is				population sizes and spatial distribution
suggested to reduce or change cropping				of all these, mammals in Hyogo. Habitat
pattern or alternating with				management has priority over damage.
non-agricultural activities near location				Fundamental and applied scientific
of monkey habitats. Various methods are				studies and understanding of ecology and
reviewed. Bat damage, Hygo crop damages				wildlife management science needs
in Japan, Grape wine damages by bats in				promotion by citizens (Mitani M 2000).
Andra Pradesh, India have been studied.				�
Crop economic loss assessment has been				18. Monkey damage
reviewed in these pages. Clover rather				�
than grass can reduce wild mammal				� � � � � � � � � Forty-seven property
damages. Alley cropping of black walnuts				owners in Entebbe, Uganda were questioned
helped to save soyabean and maize crop				about vervet monkey activities on their
damages. Pesticide damages wildlife and				property. The objective was to
minimize their attacks, enclosures and				investigate the interactions between
other electric fencing help to avoid such				humans and vervet monkeys in an
damage. Can one use harmful means to save				agricultural area adjacent to a forest
crops, need a suitable strategy to				zone. Other studies have reported that
preserve ecology and biodiversity. Both				farms located within 300 m of a forested
crops and wild animals need security and				boundary probably incur the greatest risk
conservation. A management strategy is				of crop-raiding. Two other factors that
needed to safeguard human and wildlife				may influence susceptibility to vervet
equally. � A policy framework is				crop-raiding were also examined: the
envisaged.				types of crops grown and the types of
�				direct preventive measures used. The
� � � � � � � � � Blackbird crop damage				effect of these two factors on vervet
in USA amounts to 5-8 million dollars. A				crop-raiding is not straight forward.
considerable sum of crores of rupees have				However, the distance a property is
been estimated to be damages in the form				located from the forest edge is an
of crop, human and property losses by				important factor influencing vervet crop
wild animals, birds and other rodents in				raiding. Surveyed � gardens 200 m from
India. Many measures to reduce these				the� forest edge received significantly
losses are needed and have been reviewed.				less crop -raiding than farms located�
�				100 or 50m (P=0.040,< alpha=0.05). In
�				this study, 8 out of 13 farmers (61.5%)
�				said that maize, sweet potato, or both,
�				were most likely to be damaged by the
�				vervets. Other crops singled out by the
Review				farmers are receiving damage by the
1. Wild animals damaging crops				vervets were bananas, mangoes, groundnuts
To elephants wild boar, porcupine, rheus				and yam. They suggest that the
macaque (Macaca mulatta), hoary-bellied				development of non-agricultural�
squirrel, barking deer (Muntiacus				activities on land directly adjacent to
muntjak), red-breasted parakeet				forested areas may reduce vervet crop
(Psittacula alexandri), and wild dog are				-raiding by deterring vervets from
wild animals damaging crops.				traveling greater distances from the
Methods developed and being used to				forest edge due to increased obstacles or
mitigate man-wildlife conflict include,				risks � (Saj et al 2001).
frightening the animals; guarding the				�
crops; and using some sort of scarecrow				19. Bait damage
and traps (Miah et al 2001).				� � � � � � � � � The longevity of zinc
Accurate estimation of crop damage by				phosphide (ZP) on whole wheat bait � was
wildlife (raccoons, white-tailed deer,				determined at the end of the "dry" and
and coyotes) often requires				"wet" seasons, � is Western Australia..
labour-intensive sampling procedure.				While the total rainfall during the two
Variable area transect (VAT) sampling has				trials was 74 mm and 155mm, substantial
been identified as a potential				loss of ZP was recorded only after
labour-saving alternative to quadrat				significant rainfall events. Irrespective
sampling ( Engerman et al 2002).				of season, the loss of ZP from bait
�				applied in bait stations was minimal. The
2. Wild life Human conflicts				maximum recorded loss was 17% and this