Conflict Mitigation Techniques
Though incidences of human-elephant conflict in India are among the highest in
the world, related information available is sporadic and scattered at best. Such
incidences are taking place in all of the elephant ranging states of
India. IFAW’s international partner, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), has
taken the initiative to collect and compile this information. Once compiled, the
information is reviewed and analyzed, and then considered as baseline
information for future studies and conservation initiatives.
Additionally, from the different surveys undertaken by WTI, it appears that crop raiding by elephants is one of the most prominent and common causes of distress to the farmers.
Rajaji National Park
One serious situation of conflict is within the villages around Rajaji National Park. Rajaji NP is spread over an area of 820.42 km2 and is situated in Dehradun, Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand in north India. The Park forms the northwestern limit for the Asian elephant and holds a population of 469 elephants (Uttaranchal Forest Department census, 2003). In this project it is proposed to implement conflict mitigation techniques which are site-specific, easy to implement, cost-effective and socially acceptable.
Based on the findings of the survey conducted along the fringe villages of Rajaji NP, four villages- two in the south of the Park and two villages in the north have been selected for human-elephant conflict mitigation. Those villages in the north have been selected to support maintenance of electric fences, whereas, in the south, villagers will experiment with different means of actively driving away the elephants. Village committees have been formed and trained to carry out the activities. IFAW/WTI have provided the seed money, technical assistance, and equipment to the committees.
Additional methods
Few ways of dealing with human-elephant conflict are straightforward – i.e. fencing an area, or erecting a sign. But, in other instances, the proper way to deal with conflict requires significant brainstorming. For example, WTI is involved with compensation to families/individuals when there is a death or crop damage due to conflict. Great financial dedication is involved regarding such efforts.
Another recent means of mitigating conflict was the IFAW/WTI donation of four searchlights to the Forest Department within India to enable detection of elephant movement at night, thereby reducing unnecessary encounters or collisions.
In Asia, conflict between wild elephants and people occurs to a varying extent throughout elephant range. Elephants often make forays into areas of human settlement and destroy crops, raid food stores, damage barriers or other man-made structures, occasionally injuring or killing people in the process. People retaliate by injuring, killing or using deliberate measures to displace elephants. Conflict between elephant and people is a major concern for wildlife management and IFAW will continue to work with regional offices to seek smart and tangible solutions to stem the tide in this region.
;)
This elephant was poisioned by villagers in Assam who carved a message on the
elephant's hide: "Paddy thief, elephant Laden" in a reference to bin Laden,
equating the animal with a terrorist.
Photo © WTI
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An example of a house which villagers have been relocated to in Kerala, as part
of volunatry relocation program to reduce human settlements in the corridor.
Photo © WTI
