Abstract
AbstractHuman–elephant coexistence remains a major conservation and livelihood challenge across elephantLoxodonta africanarange in Africa. This study investigates the extent of elephant crop damage on 66 farms in the Selous–Niassa corridor (Tanzania), to search for potential management solutions to this problem. We found that the relative abundance of highly preferred crops (area covered by preferred crops divided by the total area of each farm) was by far the most important factor determining crop damage by elephants. Eighteen crop types were ranked according to their preference by elephants. Sweet potatoes, bananas, peanuts, onions, pumpkins and maize were the most preferred crops, with maize the most common crop among those highly preferred. On average elephants damaged 25.7% of the cultivated farmland they entered. A beta regression model suggests that a reduction in the cultivation of preferred crops from 75 to 25% of the farmland area decreases elephant crop damage by 64%. Water availability (distance to the nearest waterhole) and the presence of private investors (mostly hunting tourism companies) were of lower importance in determining elephant crop damage. Thus, damage by elephants increased with shorter distances to waterholes and decreased in areas with private investors. However, further studies are required, particularly of the perceived costs and benefits of elephants to local communities. Farm aggregation and the use of non-preferred crops that also require less water would potentially reduce elephant damage but would be a major lifestyle change for some local communities.
Highlights
Conflict between people and wildlife has been recognized as a global conservation issue (Woodroffe et al, ; Fisher, )
Some studies have determined elephant preferences for crops, in terms of the amount taken per unit area planted at a regional scale (Walpole et al, ), the frequency of crop damage events over each type of crop (Naughton-Treves, ), or the absolute amount taken of each crop type (Malagu et al, )
Damage by elephants was positively associated with relative abundance of preferred food and negatively associated with distance to water supply (Fig. ), only relative abundance of preferred food had a significant effect on crop damage by elephants (Table )
Summary
Conflict between people and wildlife has been recognized as a global conservation issue (Woodroffe et al, ; Fisher, ). African elephants Loxodonta africana have coexisted with people for millennia but the growth of human populations and the extension of agriculture into rangelands and forests have brought humans and elephants into direct conflict (Hoare, a; Pozo et al, a). Elephants frequently cause widespread damage to agriculture and water supplies, and may injure or even kill local people, who often retaliate by killing the elephants concerned (Naughton-Treves, ; TAWIRI, ; Mariki et al, ). Some studies have determined elephant preferences for crops, in terms of the amount taken per unit area planted at a regional scale (Walpole et al, ), the frequency of crop damage events over each type of crop (Naughton-Treves, ), or the absolute amount taken of each crop type (Malagu et al, )
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