Evaluating human-elephant conflict in South India

The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is directly threatened today by the fragmentation and degradation of its natural habitats, and by killing of elephants both for ivory, and also as a result of human-elephant conflicts. Human-elephant conflict refers to negative interactions between wild elephants and people, such as crop damage, human death and injuries caused by elephants, and elephants being killed by people.

Bannerghatta National Park, southern India, is a narrow stretch of forest (104 km2) connected to a large forest in the south, and surrounded by human settlements. The park is located about 20 km south of the large city of Bangalore. A Rocha India, in conjunction with the state government Forest Department and Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, is carrying out a one-year study on human-elephant conflict issues in the park. The objective of the study is to evaluate the extent and nature of human-elephant conflicts around the study site and develop management recommendations for the long-term conservation of the elephant, with a particular focus on mitigating human-elephant conflicts.

The study began with a three-day training and capacity building programme. The programme was attended by 35 volunteers from different professional backgrounds and had good representation from the state government’s forest department. Training was given on understanding the problem, and assessment methods for responding to conflict on a day-to-day basis. Field training was also given, with volunteers being allotted to different areas for further surveys.

Two major survey programmes on elephant habitat and human settlements have so far been conducted. For both elephant and habitat survey, the study area was divided into three ranges (Bannerghatta, Harohalli and Anekal) and the ranges were further sub-divided into beats. A total of 10 beats (out of 14) were selected. Each beat was covered on foot and a total distance of about 250 km was covered looking for elephant signs (track, dung, feeding and other signs). Village surveys focused on about 160 villages located within a 10 km radius of the park, recording the number and nature of conflict incidents at each one.

Elephant surveying training workshop

These rapid surveys worked very well, fulfilling specific objectives and helping to identify critical conflict zones for long-term studies. The results suggested a specific seasonal pattern of habitat usage and human-elephant interaction, and showed the need for further surveys covering different seasons.

Students from France and the USA were involved in village sampling for assessing the local perspective on elephant visits. Currently an assessment of elephant barriers such as rubble walls, elephant-proof trenches and electrified fences is under way to understand the efficacy of these mechanisms in mitigating human-elephant conflict.

Watch the video on the A Rocha India chilli-tobacco elephant barrier

See media coverage of the chilli-tobacco barrier: The Hindu - DNA Bangalore

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Project leader: Vijay D. Anand. For further information contact india@arocha.org

Partners: Forest Department (Wildlife Wing) Government of Karnataka, Asian Elephant Research and Conservation Centre, the Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation