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Spectrum
From grassroots to galaxies

DRAGONS OF THE AIR

INSECT WORLD Scientists have pinpointed key features of the dragonflys brain, eyes and wings that allow it to hunt so unerringly. On P3

AIM AND SHOO

ENVIRONMENT A team of experts from Karnataka says over-enthusiastic bird watchers frequently steal the peace of birds and ruin the terrain. On P4

In a spot of bother?
CONFLICT Earlier, human-leopard conflict was uncommon in Karnataka. But that seems to have changed. Even as recent as last month, a two-year-old female leopard strayed into a village in Mysore district and attacked five people. Madhumitha B talks to experts on the issue.

CATS IN DANGER Statistics concerning poaching of leopards present a grim picture.

(PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR)

ree roaming tigers and elephants on the streets of Bangalore is not a reality that anyone will believe ever existed. A big cat amidst such a dense population of humankind? Its unimaginable. But history narrates a different story. A peek into the Citys colonial records that date back to the 1800s will show that once upon a time, Bangalore was host to some of the species of wildlife that are today accorded the highest protection under wildlife laws. Hunting and probably rapid urbanisation too, resulted in the species gradually moving further and further away. Since then, it may not have been a conducive environment for some of the larger mammals, but the fact remains that across the country, there are several areas where both man and animal live and walk on the same paths. It is certainly not an ideal situation always, but the demography and density of population in India vis-a-vis to the space ratio insists that this form of existence prevail. Although this principle of shared space is still practised in rural India, the tolerance to it seems to have diminished extensively. And not only that. The reaction to a species of wildlife coming into dangerously close contact with humans, has gone down a chaotic path that is in dire need of correction. Damage control in times of humanwildlife conflict itself needs serious damage control, say experts who fear that some conflict mitigation measures may actually be working adversely, for both man and animal.

One such example is the relationship between humans and leopards that has possibly become a strained one over the past few years. Leopards are among the big cats that live much closer to humans than, say, tigers or lions. It is not a new phenomenon, instead one that has always existed and sometimes people living near protected areas (PA) realise it. At other times, this big cat can survive and share non forest land with people without ever making its appearance. Such is the adaptability this species possesses. As long as this cycle is not disturbed by damage to either of the species, it can be an advantage for conservation and coexistence. Conflict with leopards was not something that was heard of that often in Karnataka. There may have been encounters with people but nothing that caused an alarm. Until recently, say wildlife biologists. Translocation Unfortunately, over the past decade, the general response to leopards lifting livestock or encountering humans has led to the measure of translocation of these big cats. Sometimes to an entirely new forest area or to the protected areas or forests of that region. Or what is termed as worse captivity. This, in the hope that they remain there and do not return to where they were found. While this is not the best option considering wildlife almost always find their way back on a natural instinct to return to their territory, it is due to lack of options that at times, translocation is de-

EVEN IN KARNATAKA, OVER THE PAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS, THERE IS SO MUCH ONE HEARS OF TRAPPINGS (CAPTURING WILD LEOPARDS FOR TRANSLOCATION). WHEN I VISITED THE STATE A FEW YEARS AGO, THE INCIDENTS OF ANY CONFLICT WITH LEOPARDS, WAS UNHEARD OF. WHAT HAS CHANGED?

cided upon, so as to protect the interests of the lives of people in an area. This, feel experts, is just bad management based on opinions and not factual, scientific understanding. The lack of options, on the other hand, need not be the case, felt Vidya Athreya, Wildlife biologist with Wildlife Conservation Society-India. According to her, a bad decision made repeatedly has spiralled the situation with leopards, out of control, causing some degree of panic concerning these big cats, even when there is no threat at all. Moving these big cats, even when there is no imminent danger and based on just apprehension, has not been good for this species. Its also a dangerous trend for people living in areas where leopards exist, because removing one individual does not necessarily mean that there arent going to be any leopards there again. It will either be occupied by another individual or possibly the same leopard that will find its way back. Additionally, we have understood that the new area where a leopard is translocated to, previously sans conflict, ends up experiencing conflict as it is unfamiliar territory for the animal and often ends up encountering people more frequently in order to survive, added Vidya who, during her course of research, has extensively covered this issue. She reiterates this point in her recent report co-authored with noted wildlife biologists including K Ullas Karanth, that states, The main management response, in the absence of robust information on large carnivore ecology in human dominated areas has been their translocation to nearby protected areas based on a belief

that these leopards are stray individuals that have dispersed from protected forest areas and need to be helped back to the forests. Recently, this has been documented to worsen the situation, leading to increased attacks on people near the sites of release. Clearly there is a need to document the status of leopards living in these human-dominated landscapes, as well as to understand the community structure of wild carnivores in highly modified ecosystems that are also home to high density of humans. In her most recent scientific paper from her study based in Western Maharashtra, Big cats in our backyards: Persistence of large carnivores in a human dominated landscape in India, Vidya has highlighted the need to deliberate on this issue at length and at various levels to properly understand how serious the repercussions of unscientific translocation can be for both man and leopard and to instead acknowledge and highlight the fact that leopards are here to stay and even live outside of protected areas and that there can be other ways to minimise damage and loss of lives. Even in Karnataka, over the past three to four years, there is so much one hears of trappings (capturing wild leopards for translocation). When I visited the State a few years ago, the incidents of any conflict with leopards, was unheard of. What has changed? We need to understand this issue better so that it can be handled in a way that is not going down the path of destruction. If we mess this up, people are going to suffer with livestock loss and possibly attacks, stated Vidya.

Landscape-based conservation In her study, Vidya has directed the attention towards the need for landscape based conservation approach and not just a PA centric one. What she means is that policies must take into consideration the fact that all wildlife need to use non protected areas as well in order to move and travel and hence measures must span all carnivore paths that sometimes intercept with human population. Ninety five per cent of the land in India is non protected areas which leaves about five per cent for forests which are important remnants of our natural heritage. To protect it, laws and carefully thought out ones at that, need to come from the formal administration and it needs to discuss expanding its zone from just protected areas. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has taken a decision to radio collar all big cats that are released back into the forests after capture for any reason. This is essentially to study the movements of these big cats after release and to ensure that the method of translocation does not defeat the purpose by exasperating the situation. While this might be able to provide information and possibly avert a conflict for now, there still is a need for a robust mechanism to curb the very need for translocation, when unnecessary. Leopards have it tough. They have the other and larger big cats to keep an eye on, in order to survive. To say that the statistics of poaching concerning the leopards, is a grim one, would be an understatement. And add to this, the stress of being constantly pitched as a threat to people and the resulting translocation, it does not fare well for the species. Unless it all can change.

Celebrating our heritage

very year, April 18 is celebrated as a World Heritage Day. Karnataka too has a wealth of ancient monuments that range from pre-historic rock shelters to a variety of edifices such as rock-cut caves, temples, tombs, mosques, churches, forts, palaces, reservoirs, bridges etc, belonging to different dynasties. Today, several of them are in a very bad state. The problem of preserving these priceless edifices for posterity is a challenging task, and this task has been undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India. The ASI and its conservators have been recognised as one of the best in the world in the art of safeguarding the ancient monuments. Old methods of preserving the monuments, with the fallen portion remaining as it is, huge stone masonry buttresses adjacent to the bulged walls, stone masonry pillars supporting the broken beams and lintels, have been changed. Today one can see that a majority of the monuments are given a new life by adopting these methods in conservation. There is a big problem of encroachment of historical monuments in the north Karnataka region. Many monuments have been encroached upon in Bijapur, thanks to new

FROM HERE & THERE

Michell and Jone Fritz opine that the site is at risk as no overall authority exists to protect the heritage. Quarrying of granite endangers the heritage sites, and that needs to be studied. Preservation of ancient monuments is becoming more and more complex with the expansion of towns and with the development of modern technology. Environmental pollution, ever-growing building activity and the consequent pressure on land, modern constructions cropping up in very close proximity to important monuments are seriously affecting the aesthetic value and the landscape etc, thereby creating further complications in maintaining the monuments. Karnatakas architecture has attracted a large number of scholars, and the State has been home to many styles of architecture which resulted in innovative and unique structures. There is a need for coordination and planning among the various agencies which have the opportunity of doing archaeological work in the State. They should come together and chalk out a phased programme towards conserving rare monuments.
Manjunath Sullolli

TREASURE HOUSE Karnataka is home to many monuments such as this fine Ugranarasimha statue in Hampi.
(DH FILE PHOTO)

housing layouts coming up around the monuments. The most brilliant epoch in the history of Karnataka is that of the Chalukyas of Badami. The temples at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal unfold a divine story. Chiseled and brought to life by the master craftsmen of yore, each stone temple is a poem. Known as the cradle of Indian architecture, Aihole has over 150 temples scattered around the village. The ASI staff of Dharwad division have beautified the

monuments in Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal. Encroachments have been removed. Reconstruction of Jain temple in Pattadakal has received praise from UNESCO. Aihole has monuments which are encroached upon, but the government has identified 204 acres of land near the village and released funds to rehabilitate the whole village of 415 families. Similar rehabilitation work is being planned in Badami. Hampi is a complexity that archaeologists, historians and scholars are constantly trying to unravel. A lot of research and excavation have been carried out at Hampi ever since 1976. Over the last three decades, Hampi has constantly unfolded something new to excavators, explorers and historians. Hampi is not only of interest for its historical prestige and magnificent remains; its remarkable landscape, religious association and ongoing archaeological investigations make it a destination of significance. An international team of archaeologists and architects has been working at the site since 1981, under the direction of John Fritz and George Michell, as a part of the Vijayanagara Research Project. The monuments were declared World Heritage Monuments by Unesco in 1987. Scholars George

The great famine

Karnataka experienced severe famine when monsoon failed the State in 1875 and 1876. This was the period when Chief Commissioner C B Saunders was administering the State of Mysore and J H Orr was the President of both Bangalore Pete and Cantonment municipality. Prices of food grains shot up and people from neighbouring districts and provinces migrated to Bangalore in search of food and employment. By July 1877, there were about 25,000 famine migrants to Bangalore. Three kitchens under the direct supervision of the General Famine Relief Committee fed destitutes twice a day in return for work. To carry out relief operations, Captain Healey and Lieutenant P E Anderson were put in charge of Pete and Cantonment respectively. To pro-

vide work for able bodied people, the government took up several public works like de-silting and repair of Dharmambudi tank and an additional reservoir adjoining and forming a part of the Sampangi tank in Bangalore. Weavers who had sold their looms in despair worked as labourers in Sampangi tank. Viceroy of India Lord Lytton who visited Bangalore in the month of September 1877 appointed Sir Charles Elliot as Famine Commissioner to carry out relief operation more effectively. He also sanctioned the work of laying of a railway line between Bangalore and Mysore. This work provided employment to thousands of people and helped mitigate their hardship. Copious rain fell in the months of September and October and the period of drought came to an end. But relief works were continued till November 1878.
Srinivas S

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