État des maraudes et des dégâts de cultures liés aux éléphants à l'ouest du secteur de Djouroutou dans le sud-ouest du parc National de Taï (Côte d'Ivoire)

Abstract

The aim of this study carried out in September to November 2007 was to assess crop damage by elephants in order to mitigate human-elephant conflict with an aim of reducing poverty among rural people and saving the residual elephant population. A questionnaire was used to collect farmers' opinions. Two plots (2000m × 500m) at the periphery of the National Park of Taï were used to monitor and estimate elephant damage. Elephant dung piles were counted on 10 line transects of 5 km each. Dung density was estimated using the DISTANCE 4.1 program. No damage was observed during the study period. However, damage had been significant between 2002 and 2005 and varied from 4% to 33.3%. In total, 12 out of 42 farmers have suffered from damage caused by elephants. The average crop lost was 13.7%. A lower proportion (16.7%) of farmers recorded complaints with deterrent methods differing from one farmer to another. Elephant density was estimated to be 1.1 ± 0.7 elephants per km-2 in the sector of the Park bordering the crops.