Citation

Williams ACC, Johnsingh AJT, Krausman PR. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 2001; 29(4): 1097-1104.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Wildlife Society)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Conflicts between elephants (Elephas maximus) and humans occur in Rajaji National Park (RNP), one of 11 reserves designated in India to conserve Asian elephants. We studied elephant-human conflicts in RNP, northwestern India, from 1996 to 1999 and recorded all human and elephant deaths or injuries caused by conflict. Primary conflicts included crop raiding, competition between humans and elephants for vegetation, and elephant mortality due to trains. Adult males that raided crops had home ranges twice as large as adult males that did not raid crops. Elephants only damaged crop fields that occurred within their home ranges. Field trials of chemical-based deterrents and electric fencing should be tried to reduce crop damage. Train speeds need to be reduced to prevent accidental elephant mortality.