Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Estimation of economic loss and identifying the factors affecting the crop raiding behaviour of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Nilambur part of the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India


Affiliations
1 Wildlife Biology Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, India; University of Calicut, Thenhipalam 673 635, India
2 Wildlife Biology Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, India
 

The crop damage by the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) on the livelihood of farmers is a major impediment to the conservation of the endangered mammals. The study was carried out in Malappuram district, Kerala, India from January 2013 to May 2016, to estimate the extent of crop damage by Asian elephants and to identify the factors affecting human–elephant conflict. To estimate the monetary loss, the method of running quadrats was employed. The major cash-crops destroyed by the Asian elephant were plantain (Musa paradisiaca), rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), areca nut (Areca catechu) and coconut (Cocos nucifera). A potential loss of Rs 5,076,827 (US$ 72,948) per annum (Rs 2,217,363 (US$ 31,861) (other crops) + Rs 2859,464 (US$ 41,087) (rubber)) was estimated. Fifty per cent of the encounters occurred at early midnight. The presence of areca nut cultivation and distance to the Reserve Forest were identified as the two factors affecting crop raiding. The damage to rubber trees by feeding on the bark has also been reported

Keywords

Areca nut cultivation, Asian elephant, crop damage, potential loss, running quadrats.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Williams, C. et al., Elephas maximus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e.T7140A45818198; https://dx.doi.org/ 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T7140A45818198.en

  • Sukumar, R., Ecology of the Asian elephant in southern India: II. Feeding habits and crop raiding pattern. J. Trop. Ecol., 1990, 6, 33–53.

  • Chiyo, P. I., Cochrane, E. P., Naughton, L. and Basuta, G. I., Temporal patterns of crop raiding by elephants: a response to changes in forage quality or crop availability? Afr. J. Ecol., 2005, 43(1), 48–55.

  • Prasad, G., Shiny, R., Reghunath, R. and Prasannakumar, V., A GIS-based spatial prediction model for human–elephant conflicts (HEC). Wildl. Biol. Pract., 2011, 7, 30–40.

  • Chen, Y., Marino, J., Chen, Y., Tao, Q., Sullivan, C. D., Shi, K. and Macdonald, D. W., Predicting hotspots of human–elephant conflict to inform mitigation strategies in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. PLoS ONE, 2016, 11, 1–15.

  • Pozo, R. A., Coulson, T., McCulloch, G., Stronza, A. L. and Songhurst, A. C., Determining baselines for human–elephant conflict: a matter of time. PLoS ONE, 2017, 12, 1–17.

  • Saaban, S., Othman, N. B., Yasak, M. N. B., Nor, B. M., Zafii, A. and Compose-Arceiz, A., Current status of Asian elephants in Peninsular Malaysia. Gajah, 2011, 35, 67–75.

  • Zhang, L. and Wang, N., An initial study on habitat conservation of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), with a focus on human– elephant conflict in Simao, China. Biol. Conserv., 2003, 112, 453– 459.

  • Karanth, K. K., Gopalaswamy, A. M., Prasad, P. K. and Dasgupta, S., Patterns of human–wildlife conflicts and compensation: insights from Western Ghats protected areas. Biol. Conserv., 2013, 166, 175–185.

  • Nath, N. K., Dutta, S. K., Das, J. P. and Lahkar, B. P., A quantification of damage and assessment of economic loss due to crop raiding by Asian elephant Elephas maximus (Mammalia: Proboscidea: Elephantidae): a case study of Manas National Park, Assam, India. J. Threat. Taxa, 2015, 7(2), 6853–6863.

  • Venkataramana, G. V., Sreenivasa and Lingaraju, H. G., An assessment of crop damage and economic loss caused by elephants in Harohalli and Kodihalli Ranges of Bannerghatta National Park, Karnataka, India. Curr. Sci., 2017, 113, 161–167.

  • Veeramani, A., Easa, P. S. and Jayson, E. A., Socio-economic status of cultivators and their interface with wild animals: a case study of Marayur Forest Range, Kerala. Indian For., 2004, 130, 513–520.

  • Easa, P. S. and Sankar, S., Study on man–wildlife interaction in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. KFRI Research Report No. 166, 2001, pp. 1–190.

  • Jayson, E. A. and Christopher, G., Human–elephant conflict in the southern Western Ghats: a case study from Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India. Indian For., 2008, 134(10), 1309–1325.

  • Govind, S. K. and Jayson, E. A., Economic loss to the farmers due to wild animals in Thrissur district, Kerala, India. In Proceedings of the National Conference on Modern Trends in Zoological Research, Department of Zoology, St Aloysius College, Elthuruth, 2014, pp. 220–223.

  • Gureja, N., Menon, V., Sarkar, P. and Kyarong, S., Ganesh to bin Laden: human–elephant conflict in Sonitpur district of Assam. Occasional Report No. 6, Wildlife Trust of India, New Delhi, 2002, p. 45.

  • Rohini, C. K., Aravindan, T., Das, K. S. A. and Vinayan, P. A., People’s attitude towards wild elephants, forest conservation and human–elephant conflict in Nilambur, southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India. J. Threat. Taxa, 2018, 10(6), 11710–11716.

  • Champion, H. G. and Seth, S. K., A Revised Survey of the Forest Type of India, Manager of Publications, New Delhi, 1968, p. 397.

  • Sreenath, G., Ground water information booklet of Malappuram district. Technical Report, Government of Kerala, India, 2013, pp. 1–4.

  • Jayson, E. A., Studies on crop damage by wild animals in Kerala and evaluation of control measures. KFRI Research Report No. 169, 1999, p. 48.

  • Sitati, N. W., Walpole, M. J., Smith, R. J. and Leader-Williams, N., Predicting spatial aspects of human–wildlife conflict. J. Appl. Ecol., 2003, 40, 667.

  • Compose-Arceiz, A., Takatsuki, S., Ekanayaka, S. K. K. and Hasegawa, T., The human–elephant conflict in southeastern Sri Lanka: type of damage, seasonal patterns, and sexual differences in the raiding behaviour of elephants. Gajah, 2009, 31, 5–14.

  • Bhima, R., Elephant status and conflict with humans on the western bank of Liwonde National Park, Malawi. Pachyderm, 1998, 25, 74–80.

  • Ekanayaka, S. K. K., Compose-Arceiz, A., Rupasinghe, M., Pastorini, J. and Fernando, P., Patterns of crop raiding by Asian elephants in a human-dominated landscape in south-eastern Sri Lanka. Gajah, 2011, 34, 20–25.

  • Sukumar, R., The management of large mammals in relation to male strategies and conflict with people. Biol. Conserv., 1991, 55, 93–102.

  • Monroe, M. W. and England, L. D., Elephants and agriculture in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Malaysia, 1978.

  • Salman, S. and Nasharuddin, O., A preliminary study on disturbance cases by elephants (Elephas maximus) in the state of Johor. J. Wildl. Parks, 2003, 21, 1–11.

  • Chen, S., Yi, Z. F., Arceiz, A. C., Chen, M. Y. and Webb, E. L., Developing a spatially explicit, sustainable and risk-based insurance scheme to mitigate human–wildlife conflict. Biol. Conserv., 2013, 168, 31–39.

  • Jayson, E. A., Studies on man–wildlife conflict in Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent areas. KFRI Research Report No. 140, 1998, pp. 1–71.

  • Messmer, T. A., The emergence of human–wildlife conflict management: turning challenges into opportunities. Int. Biodeteriora. Biodegrad., 2000, 45, 97–102.


Abstract Views: 359

PDF Views: 146




  • Estimation of economic loss and identifying the factors affecting the crop raiding behaviour of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Nilambur part of the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Abstract Views: 359  |  PDF Views: 146

Authors

Riju P. Nair
Wildlife Biology Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, India; University of Calicut, Thenhipalam 673 635, India
E. A. Jayson
Wildlife Biology Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, India

Abstract


The crop damage by the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) on the livelihood of farmers is a major impediment to the conservation of the endangered mammals. The study was carried out in Malappuram district, Kerala, India from January 2013 to May 2016, to estimate the extent of crop damage by Asian elephants and to identify the factors affecting human–elephant conflict. To estimate the monetary loss, the method of running quadrats was employed. The major cash-crops destroyed by the Asian elephant were plantain (Musa paradisiaca), rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), areca nut (Areca catechu) and coconut (Cocos nucifera). A potential loss of Rs 5,076,827 (US$ 72,948) per annum (Rs 2,217,363 (US$ 31,861) (other crops) + Rs 2859,464 (US$ 41,087) (rubber)) was estimated. Fifty per cent of the encounters occurred at early midnight. The presence of areca nut cultivation and distance to the Reserve Forest were identified as the two factors affecting crop raiding. The damage to rubber trees by feeding on the bark has also been reported

Keywords


Areca nut cultivation, Asian elephant, crop damage, potential loss, running quadrats.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv121%2Fi4%2F521-528