Quantifying Agricultural Crop Losses Caused by Blue Bulls: an Economic Assessment in Western Haryana and Central Punjab in India

States like Haryana and Punjab, pivotal agricultural hubs in India, suffer significant crop losses due to wildlife, including blue bulls, wild boars, monkeys, and others. Blue bulls (Boselaphus tragocamelus) reportedly cause damage ranging from 20 to 70% in various crops, depending upon their population density. A comprehensive study was required to determine the impact of blue bulls on different crops in Haryana and Punjab. Damage was evaluated in major crops like wheat, paddy, cotton, mustard, oat (fodder) in district Hisar, Haryana and in wheat, paddy, oat (fodder), moong, poplar, and maize in district Ludhiana, Punjab. Damage was assessed in nine fields (0.4 ha each) of each crop. The parameters calculated include the percentage of crop damage from sowing till harvesting, yield loss (quintals per hectare), and monetary losses for each crop. In Hisar, oat and wheat emerged as the primary feeding choices, with percent damage ranges from 6.52 to 27.90%, and 4.11 to 21.58% respectively. Whereas, in Ludhiana, maize, oat, and wheat were preferred with percent damage ranging from 1.50 to 31.74, 3.74 to 30.52%, and 3.55 to 23.30%, respectively. Conversely, paddy was the least favored crop (0 to 5.02% damage) in both districts. Blue bull damage notably affected crop yield at post-flowering stages. The animals utilized mustard, cotton, and poplar crops for hiding. Monetary losses to farmers were most pronounced in maize crop, followed by wheat and cotton. Vulnerable crop stages, crop preferences, and monetary losses to farmers for each crop were determined through exhaustive damage assessment for each crop. Determination of vulnerable stage, assessment of blue bull's damage, and economic losses to farmers will help government/policy makers to intervene for extending timely help to farmers and to implement cost effective management tactics against these problematic pest species.