Human–Snake Conflict Patterns and Implications for Urban Biodiversity Conservation in Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra, India

Human–snake conflict has emerged as a significant ecological and public health issue in rapidly transforming landscapes of Gadchiroli District. Expansion of urban settlements, agricultural intensification, habitat fragmentation, and increasing anthropogenic pressure on forest ecosystems have intensified encounters between humans and snakes. The present study examines the spatial and seasonal patterns of human–snake conflict and evaluates its implications for urban biodiversity conservation in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra. Conflict incidents were highest during the monsoon season and were concentrated near peri-urban settlements, agricultural fields, drainage systems, and forest-edge villages. Habitat degradation, rodent abundance, improper waste disposal, and lack of awareness were identified as major factors increasing snake encounters in urbanizing landscapes. The study highlights the ecological role of snakes as regulators of rodent populations and emphasizes the importance of coexistence-based conservation approaches. provide baseline information for developing sustainable human–wildlife coexistence strategies in central Indian landscapes.