Human-elephant conflict outlook in the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya

Abstract

880 questionnaire interviews were administered to residents in the area between Amboseli, Chyulu Hills and Tsavo West NP in southeastern Kenya. Results illustrate that crop farming has intensified during the last several years and so to has the crop damage by wildlife. Elephants are reported to be the most 'problematic' animal . Crop raiding is largly done by bulls in the night during the dry season. Maize was the most commonly lost crop. 6% of the interviewees had had family menbers killed or injured by elephant and livestock death and injuries due to elephant were mentioned. The pattern of attitudes towards elephant are associated with the resident's ethnic background, gender, form of land use, benefits accrued from wildlife, level of elephant crop damage, and the response of the wildlife authority to problem-elephant reports.