Efficacy of chilli Capsicum oleoresin guns usage by local hunters as African elephant repellent from crop raiding in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia

Abstract

Chilli Capsicum oleoresin guns have been utilised by local hunters in Luangwa Valley, Zambia in the recent years as Community Based Conflict Mitigation (CBCM) for human-elephant conflict (HEC) situations. Through use of C. oleoresin guns, transformation of local hunters from elephant poachers to sustainable agriculturalists has been a milestone for conservation efforts. In this study, authors systematically evaluated efficacy of C. oleoresin guns usage by the local hunters as African elephant repellent from crop raiding in the Luangwa, Zambia using statistical multivariate regression modelling approaches. Out of nine potential factors influencing effectiveness of C. oleoresin guns, two factors were significantly associated with impacts of C. oleoresin aerosols: rain conditions and elephant head size. These factors were, in addition to wind direction, determinants of effectiveness of C. oleoresinaerosols on target elephants. CBCM innovations are encouraged and we suggest building capacity in training, access to materials and implementation monitoring by local hunters and wildlife managers to enhance local participation in non-lethal preventive and mitigation interventions, especially those which are robust to elephant habituation. Key words: Luangwa Valley, Zambia, Capsicum oleoresin, counter-measures, human-elephant conflicts, biodiversity conservation.