Perceptions and realities of elephant crop raiding and mitigation methods

Abstract

Crop raiding by African elephants (Loxodonta africana) jeopardizes human livelihoods and undermines conservation efforts. Addressing this issue is particularly important in subsistence farms adjacent to protected areas and requires assessing the perceived and actual scale of the problem and the benefits, limitations and adoption potential of mitigation techniques. To achieve these objectives, we assessed the effectiveness of chili and beehive fences relative to control plots, using a daily farm monitoring protocol implemented on 20 farms bordering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania). Prior to the field study, we interviewed 65 farmers about human-elephant interactions and contrasted interview findings with those of daily farm monitoring. Farmer perception of crop raiding frequency declined with increasing distance from the protected area and was, on average, eight times greater than daily farm monitoring data indicated. The majority of interviewees expressed a willingness to try chili or beehive fences, though chili fences were preferred. Generalized-linear-mixed models indicated that neither elephant farm intrusions nor damages were significantly reduced by either chili or beehive fences relative to the control sites. Losses per month and hectare did not differ significantly by fence type. However, farm plots with chili fences did not experience massive damages which occasionally occurred in beehive or control plots. This partial effectiveness of chili fences was further confirmed by contrasting crop losses from a subset of farms that were subject to a cross-over experimental design. Our multidimensional case study suggests that chili fences have greater adoption potential than beehive fences. Nevertheless, additional efforts are required to increase effectiveness and to realize adoption potential. By providing insights into the context and circumstances that presented challenges to the effectiveness, sustainability and scalability of beehive and chili fences, this study can This article is particularly important for conservation practitioners working on implementing methods to mitigate human-elephant conflicts and equally targets scholars who investigate general aspects of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence scenarios.

Addressing the global snakebite crisis with geo-spatial analyses – Recent advances and future direction

“…Historically, human-wildlife conflict has been an important issue ( Anand and Radhakrishna, 2017 ; Lamarque et al, 2009 ; Nyhus, 2016 ; Treves et al, 2006 ). The modification of natural habitat for human uses such as farming has led to a myriad of conflicts between humans and wildlife, such as predation of stock by wild predators ( Beattie et al, 2020 ; Hill, 2015 ; Manral et al, 2016 ; Messmer, 2000 ; Western et al ), destruction of crops by herbivores ( Kiffner et al, 2021 ; Mamo et al, 2021 ; Priston and Underdown, 2009 ; Siljander et al, 2020 ), attacks on humans ( Jhala et al, 2021 ; Tarrant et al, 2020 ; Western et al ), and introduction of zoonotic diseases ( Jacob et al, 2020 ; Jhala et al, 2021 ; Jones et al, 2013 ; Tarrant et al, 2020 ).…”

The Chemical Ecology of Elephants: 21st Century Additions to Our Understanding and Future Outlooks

“…Chili peppers (Capsicum spp. or other hot chilis) have been used for as a deterrent in a variety of forms, including growing chilis around sustenance crops, making a motor-oil based extract and creating a cloth and rope fence, by burning, and via gas dispensers (e.g., see these papers and references therein: [175][176][177][178][179][180]). A recent study used high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to quantify the two major active ingredients, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, [181].…”

Geospatial Assessment of Human-Wildlife-Environment Interactions for Spatial Decision Support

“…Resource managers use a variety of mitigation measures to prevent crop destruction by elephants (Karidozo and Osborn, 2005;King, et al, 2011;Kiffner et al, 2020). One objective of this study is to provide local farmers with information on the efficacy of elephant mitigation techniques including the use of resin from chilli peppers (Capsicum spp.)…”