Rhesus macaque-human conflict in Northern India: Attitudes and perceptions
Student name: Mr Raghav Saraswat
Guide: Dr Nandini Kumar
Year of completion: 2010
Host Organisation: NIAS, IISc.
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Prof Anindya Sinha
Abstract: This study is a part of the pilot study being undertaken for
assessing the nature and extent of the human-primate conflict in Bilaspur district
Himachal Pradesh, India. It attempts to capture the attitudes and perceptions of
the local people in the villages of Bilaspur towards the Rhesus Macaque
(Macaca mulatta) and the impact of the conflict on the lives of the villagers,
particularly the farmers. It also tries to assess the impact of crop-damage by
various factors, especially depredation by wildlife and drought.
Along with that, it tries to highlight people’s opinions and values associated with
conservation issues.
Key Words: human wildlife conflict, perception study, monkey-menace, cropdamage,
drought
