title: A study on the tolerance level of farmers toward human-wildlife conflict in the forest buffer zones of Tamil Nadu.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to study the tolerance level of farmers toward different human-wildlife conflict (HWC) situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in 24 villages of nine blocks from Kancheepuram, Coimbatore, Erode, and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu by personally interviewing 240 farmers affected with four different HWC situations such as human-elephant conflict (HEC), human-wild pig conflict (HPC), human-gaur conflict (HGC), and human-monkey conflict (HMC). A scale developed for this purpose was used to find out the tolerance level of the farmers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, the majority (61.70%) of the farmers had medium level of tolerance toward HWC, whereas 25.40% and 12.90% belonged to a high and low category, respectively. The mean tolerance level of the farmer's encountering HMC is low (8.77) among the other three wild animal conflicts. In tackling HWC, the majority (55.00%) of the HEC farmers drove the elephant once it entered into their farmland. In the HPC, more than three-fourths of the respondents drove away the wild pig once they were found in farmlands. With regard to the HMC, a less number of them (1.70%) drove the monkey away if monkeys were spotted in their village. With regard to HGC, 95.00% of the respondents frightened the gaurs if their family members were threatened by gaurs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that that majority of the farmers had medium level of tolerance toward HWC. The tolerance level of the HMC farmers was lower than other three HWC affected farmers. This study emphasizes the need for necessary training to tackle the problem in an effective manner for wild animal conservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife Science, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Senthilkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mathialagan
authors.affiliation: University Publication Division, Directorate of Distance Education, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manivannan
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife Science, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Jayathangaraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gomathinayagam
keywords: elephant; gaur; human-wildlife conflict; local perceptions; monkey; tolerance level; wild pig