Interactions between people and wildlife are a common occurrence in many parts of India and much of South Asia. Large mammals that frequent human-inhabited areas are typically depicted in the media as fearsome and dangerous, increasing fear of wild animals and potentially instigating negative attitudes towards wildlife. Heightened antagonism towards wildlife also pressurizes park managers to take action when wildlife shares space with people. One common intervention is translocation of so-called problem leopards, which, as research conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society, India Program (WCS India) has shown, can actually increase conflict with people near release sites.

In April 2015 WCS India held collaborative workshops to increase the sensitivity of media personnel in reporting human–wildlife interactions. This was part of a series of seven workshops conducted across multiple high-conflict states in India over the last 2 years, supported by the Rufford Foundation and WCS New York. Participants numbered more than 200, and included park managers involved in mitigating conflict, local conservation NGOs, and journalists from the English and local-language media. The workshops focused on the positive impacts that media reporting can have on the nature of human–wildlife interactions through shaping public perception of wildlife and influencing the way we deal with wild animals that occur in human-use lands. Workshop content included research findings on conflict-prone mammals from WCS India and other organizations (including the Nature Conservation Foundation and Centre for Conservation and Research); novel mitigation methods detailed by conservation practitioners; and a media perspective on human–wildlife conflict and how the media can reduce sensationalism and make people more aware of the complex nature of this issue.

Subsequent to the workshops, reporters stated their interest in enhancing the quality and depth of news reports on human–wildlife interactions. Initial results indicate that the workshops have been successful in improving the sensitivity of news reports on wildlife residing in and around human habitation. People in India have traditionally accepted the presence of wildlife in their vicinity; retaining this acceptance is crucial for the long-term viability of many threatened species. The media can shape public perceptions of wildlife, and interactions between scientists, conservationists, park managers and journalists are crucial for accurate and responsible reporting on conflict.