Unearthing Conflict: How Mining Shapes Human-Primate Encounters in Southern India

A recent study by Anand, S., & Radhakrishna, S. (2024) investigated how landscape modifications induced by mining activities influence human-primate conflict dynamics in a coal mining area in southern India. By employing household-level questionnaire surveys and geospatial analysis, the research assessed the occurrence and intensity of conflict incidents and historical changes in the landscape.

In a coal mining region of southern India, researchers delve into the intricate interplay between human activities and wildlife dynamics. Through a meticulous blend of household surveys and geospatial analysis, they unravel the impacts of mining-induced landscape changes on human-primate conflict. Unlike traditional conflict scenarios, where crop damage often takes center stage, house-raiding emerges as the predominant form of conflict. The study took place in Ramagundam Coal Belt region, situated in the Mancherial and Pedapalli districts of Telangana state, southern India, is part of the expansive Godavari Valley Coalfields (GVCF). Initially explored in 1886, the mining region has steadily expanded to encompass an area of 17,000 km2 across several districts. The Ramagundam area, in particular, has been a focal point of intensive mining activities since 1974.

Results revealed that, unlike typical rural conflict scenarios, house-raiding emerged as the predominant conflict form, with minimal crop damage instances. Primates exhibited avoidance behaviors towards mining areas, with conflict incidents escalating further away from mines. Landscape features, particularly monospecific plantations correlated with reduced crop damage but increased likelihood of house-raiding incidents. Analysis of long-term land cover changes highlighted the correlation between the expansion of built-up areas and increased human-primate conflict interactions, particularly with rhesus macaques moving towards human settlements. The research sheds light on the intricate connection between mining operations and human-primate conflict, highlighting how human-induced changes to landscapes significantly influence wildlife behavior and conflict patterns.

Source ???Anand, S., & Radhakrishna, S. (2024). Does Mining Escalate Human-Wildlife Conflict?: Insights from Human-Rhesus Macaque Conflict in a Coal-Mining Region in Southern India.?Human Ecology, 1-13.