Assessment of human-elephant conflicts in areas adjacent to grumeti-Ikorongo game reserves, Northern Tanzania
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Date
2011
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Publisher
Sokoine Univeesity of Agriculture
Abstract
Twelve villages adjacent to the Grumeti-Ikorongo Game Reserves (GIGRs) and part of
the Serengeti National Park (SENAPA) in Bunda and Serengeti districts were selected to
assess human elephant conflicts (HEC) from 2006 - 2009. The study aimed to identify
the type of conflicts, determine the magnitude, spatial and temporal patterns of HEC
incidences, and the effectiveness of the mitigation methods applied. Arc GIS (9.3v) was
used to analyze spatial data. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to
analyze the magnitude, temporal patterns, type of conflicts and the effectiveness of the
mitigation methods. Regression analysis was carried out to illustrate crop raiding based
on distance of villages from the protected area boundaries. Results showed that elephant
crop damage constituted about 89% of all conflicts while human, elephant and livestock
kill including damage of water structures and human interference accounted for 11%.
Temporal trends indicated two peaks of elephant crop damage incidences, the highest
peak started from April to June and the lowest from September to October. The spatial
distribution of crop raiding incidences showed a series of clumped conflict zones
confined in a narrow band of villages adjacent to the GIGRs and SENAPA boundaries.
The magnitudes of crop damages were not similar across the villages as they were
influenced by distance between the centre of the villages and the protected areas
boundaries (r = - 0.84, p < 0.001). The overall level of crop damages was of medium
category (44%). About 45% of the farmers used ineffective traditional methods to deter
elephants while 48% of them did not deploy any method and 7% used a chilli method
that showed effective deterrent results. The study recommended for upscalling the chilli
method in order to reduce HEC to tolerable level.
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Keywords
Assessment human-elephant, grumeti-Ikorongo, game reserves, Northern, Tanzania