About 184 villages and 4 tea gardens are situated within the influence area of the park; as a result of the acute poverty present among its residents, the villagers often enter the park for illegal fishing and for firewood. Threat from overgrazing by the domestic livestock is ever present. An acute fodder shortage in the dry season forces the livestock to enter into the park for grazing, severely affecting the amount of food available for the wild herbivorous animals. Such infiltration of domestic cattle increases the risk of spread of diseases among the wild animals as most of the cattle are not properly immunized. There is also a risk of losing genetic distinctness among the wild buffaloes due to entry of domestic buffaloes. Indiscriminate use of pesticides in the tea gardens close to the park boundaries also pose a threat through pesticide run-off. The tea gardens are also considered to be a source of invasive species like Mimosa and wild rose.