According to a study by the Kerala Forest Department, wild animals, including tigers and elephants, are moving into populated areas and posing a threat to people due to limited food options and shrinking forest territories.
Invasive plants, such as Senna siamea, have reduced the number of grassy plants that serve as food for herbivores, causing them to leave the forest in search of sustenance.
The presence of crops, like bananas and yams, along the forest borders attracts elephants and boars, which in turn leads to the departure of tigers in pursuit of their prey.
With the growing tiger population, their habitats, which require a minimum of 25 square kilometers, become increasingly scarce, leading to confrontations between tigers and physical injuries. The shortage of food also drives tigers to hunt livestock near the forest.
The Forest Department’s attempts to relocate captured tigers often result in further harm, as the animals have already suffered significant injuries.
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