Human-Elephant (Elephas maximus) Conflict in Southern India: Spatial Movement Pattern of Asian Elephants Outside Reserved Forests of Coimbatore Forest Division

Abstract

This study revealed that a total of 422 crop fields were visited by elephants across the six forest ranges of Coimbatore Forest Division during the study period. The number of crop fields which are affected by elephants was high in Boluvampatti range (116) followed by Coimbatore (107), PN Palayam (105), Mettupalayam (64) and Sirumugai (25). Very less number of affected crop fields was recorded in Karamadai range (5). The highest number of crop fields was affected in 0–0.5 km category from forest boundary in five forest ranges, i.e. Coimbatore, PN Palayam, Mettupalayam, Sirumugai and Karamadai. On the contrary, in Boluvampatti, the highest number of crop fields was affected in 0.5–1 km category. Frequency of crop fields affected in different distance categories from forest boundary (0–0.5 km, 0.5–1 km, 1–1.5 km, 1.5–2 km, 2–2.5 km) and within each forest range was significant (F = 5.98, P = 0.002). Frequency of crop fields affected in different distance categories from forest boundary (0–0.5 km, 0.5–1 km, 1–1.5 km, 1.5–2 km and 2–2.5 km) versus between forest ranges was also significant (F = 5.36, P = 0.002). As overall in Coimbatore Forest Division, crop fields located close to forest (0–0.5 km) were highly (35.55 %) affected by elephant visits. An overall intensity of elephant visits into the crop fields revealed that low intensity was traced in 40% of crop fields followed by medium (38%), and high intensity was noticed in 22 % of the crop fields. Statistical test revealed that frequency of crop fields affected in different distance categories (0–0.5 km, 0.5–1 km, 1–1.5 km,1.5–2 km, 2–2.5 km and 2.5–3 km) from forest and within various intensities of elephant visits (1–10, 11–20 and 21–30) was significant (F = 8.707, P = 0.002).