An Assessment of Crop Damage and Economic Loss Caused by Elephants in Harohalli and Kodihalli Ranges of Bannerghatta National Park, Karnataka, India

The human-elephant conflict, which results in extensive crop damage as well as casualties (both humans and elephants) has significantly increased over the past decade. We studied the patterns of crop raiding and associated economic loss by elephants across two forest ranges of Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), Karnataka, India, namely Kodihalli and Harohalli ranges, from January 2014 to December 2014. We found that 127 villages reported crop raids by elephants during the study period. The incidence of crop raiding in villages ranged from 1 to 59 (mean = 7.17) and was highest in Kodihalli division. Maximum crop raiding incidences were recorded during the rainy season in both the ranges. Elephants with varying proportions raided all cultivated crop species in the study area. Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) (65 acres), banana (Musa paradisia) (1535 plants) and coconut (Cocus nucifera) (140 trees) were the most raided crop species. Crop maturity and crop raiding incidence showed positive correlation for finger millet in the Kodihalli range. In contrast, bananas were damaged throughout the year in the Harohalli range. Other crops such as red gram, paddy, sugarcane and beans were raided less in the sampling areas. In conclusion, this study reveals rising incidence of human-elephant conflicts and significant economic loss as a result of crop damage in the adjoining regions of BNP.