Social Factors Affecting the Conservation of Tigers in the Samsher Nagar Area of Sunderbans

Abstract

Increased human populations and the resulting encroachment of related lands with poaching of tigers and their key prey threaten the survival of tigers across their range. Mere collection of huge data on ecology does not promote the protection of carnivores but it mainly depends on public co-operation and awareness. The public attitude towards carnivores (Panthera tigris tigris) is vital because fear pervades among the local inhabitants. Our target population consisted of all adults inhabitants. We sampled arbitrarily founded on geographic area. We guessed that the best data collection method would involve sampling at home of the residents by personal interview with the questionnaires due to huge illiteracy of the inhabitants. Proceeding this way was time-consuming but proved to increase the quality of responses. We studied villagers’ mind-set and collected information on public awareness, feelings and frequency of sightings related to the tigers. They were conscious of its existence and aware of its ecological values to conserve Sunderbans also. To better understand the social factors affecting large carnivore conservation, we surveyed the tiger-affected people, the relatives of the people killed by tigers and the common villagers in the village of Samser nagar of Sunderbans, West Bengal, in India. People living in this area are heavily dependent on forest for their livelihood. They collect honey and catch crabs and fish seedlings from the jungle. Nowadays, many tourists came to see flora and fauna and the eternal beauty of Sunderbans. Many people depend their livelihood on tourism. These social factors make them to think to save Sunderbans. If Sunderbans is destroyed in near future, then they will suffer economically. A financial constraint of the inhabitants to protect the human lives and cattle from the attack of tigers was revealed by choosing the category willing to conserve but not afforded to pay. This study was the first assessment of public responsiveness and exposed the basic data for understanding Bengal tigers in the area of Samsher nagar of Sunderbans.