Strawman arguments and flawed inferences: A response to Naha et al. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Puri, Mahi; Srivathsa, Arjun; Karanth, Krithi K.; Patel, Imran; Samba Kumar, N.
• Is Part Of: Ecological indicators. Volume 120(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environmental impact analysis -- Periodicals; Environmental risk assessment -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 333.71405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106887
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-160X

Abstract

Abstract: Our study titled "The balancing act: Maintaining leopard-wild prey equilibrium could offer economic benefits to people in a shared forest landscape of central India" used an occupancy framework to provide baseline information on patterns and determinants of leopard occurrence and conflict in a human-dominated landscape. We also examined the role of wild prey in offsetting livestock depredation based on leopard diet. In their letter to the Editor, Naha et al. raise concerns about our study, claiming that our methods are inaccurate, and that our inferences are exaggerated. Here, we provide detailed responses to the issues raised by the authors, as we do not find any merits in their claims and reiterate the accurate interpretations of our findings.