Wildlife Habitat Enrichment for Mitigating Human-elephant Conflict by Biological Displacement of <I>Lantana</I>

Abstract

The paper presents the findings of 7 year long field trial of a fodder plantation technique specially designed for enrichment of wildlife habitats by biological displacement of Lantana cover by bamboo in a Lantana-infested area. The field trial was carried out between 1995-96 and 2002-03 in Rajaji National Park. The gradual displacement of Lantana by bamboo circumvents the threat of sudden depletion of resources for wild animals that were habituated to the presence of Lantana thickets in their habitat, and gives them time to adjust to the change in their habitat which the traditional weed-eradication techniques, currently in vogue do not allow.