Unveiling the Hidden Causes: Identifying the Drivers of Human–Elephant Conflict in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India
Since the human population is growing beyond the earth’s ability to sustain it, more people are being brought into contact with wildlife, leading to increasing human–wildlife conflict. The Asian elephant, a wide-ranging megaherbivore, is being increasingly threatened by human–elephant conflict [HEC]...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Nagarajan Baskaran Selvarasu Sathishkumar Varadharajan Vanitha Mani Arjun Perumal Keerthi Nikshepan Goud Bandhala |
| author_facet | Nagarajan Baskaran Selvarasu Sathishkumar Varadharajan Vanitha Mani Arjun Perumal Keerthi Nikshepan Goud Bandhala |
| author_sort | Nagarajan Baskaran |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since the human population is growing beyond the earth’s ability to sustain it, more people are being brought into contact with wildlife, leading to increasing human–wildlife conflict. The Asian elephant, a wide-ranging megaherbivore, is being increasingly threatened by human–elephant conflict [HEC]. Its conservation depends on identifying the causes of HEC and implement measure to mitigate the HEC effectively. We studied the drivers of HEC among five forest divisions in Western Ghats, India, that support a high density of elephants across Asia. Comparing the last six years’ data on HEC with 26 ecological covariates in the GLMM framework, we identified spatiotemporal variations and drivers of crop, and property damages and human casualties. Spatially, HEC was highest in the territorial division and lowest in those declared as Protected Areas earlier. The comparison of crop damage with covariates showed that crop damage decreased with the grass biomass index, elephant density, extent of dry-thorn, and deciduous habitats, and forest range area, while it increased with adult male % and forest range perimeter. Similarly, the property damage by elephants increased with crop damage frequency and human settlement/cultivation area, but decreased with grass biomass, forest range area, and deciduous habitat area. Human casualties due to elephants increased with property damage, ambient temperature, and forest range perimeter, but decreased with grass biomass. Overall, the decrease in HEC with grass biomass, and the increase in HEC with human settlement and forest range perimeter indicate that anthropogenic pressure that decreases the grass biomass and degrades the habitat is the likely root cause of HEC, and minimizing it would reduce overall HEC. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d5707bed18704f0aa5dec9013c803db8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-d5707bed18704f0aa5dec9013c803db82024-11-26T17:45:39ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-11-011422319310.3390/ani14223193Unveiling the Hidden Causes: Identifying the Drivers of Human–Elephant Conflict in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern IndiaNagarajan Baskaran0Selvarasu Sathishkumar1Varadharajan Vanitha2Mani Arjun3Perumal Keerthi4Nikshepan Goud Bandhala5Mammalian Biology Lab, Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous) Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, IndiaMammalian Biology Lab, Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous) Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, IndiaDepartment of Zoology, Dharmapuram Gnanambigai Government Arts College for Women, Mayiladuthurai 609 001, IndiaMammalian Biology Lab, Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous) Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, IndiaMammalian Biology Lab, Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous) Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, IndiaMammalian Biology Lab, Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous) Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, IndiaSince the human population is growing beyond the earth’s ability to sustain it, more people are being brought into contact with wildlife, leading to increasing human–wildlife conflict. The Asian elephant, a wide-ranging megaherbivore, is being increasingly threatened by human–elephant conflict [HEC]. Its conservation depends on identifying the causes of HEC and implement measure to mitigate the HEC effectively. We studied the drivers of HEC among five forest divisions in Western Ghats, India, that support a high density of elephants across Asia. Comparing the last six years’ data on HEC with 26 ecological covariates in the GLMM framework, we identified spatiotemporal variations and drivers of crop, and property damages and human casualties. Spatially, HEC was highest in the territorial division and lowest in those declared as Protected Areas earlier. The comparison of crop damage with covariates showed that crop damage decreased with the grass biomass index, elephant density, extent of dry-thorn, and deciduous habitats, and forest range area, while it increased with adult male % and forest range perimeter. Similarly, the property damage by elephants increased with crop damage frequency and human settlement/cultivation area, but decreased with grass biomass, forest range area, and deciduous habitat area. Human casualties due to elephants increased with property damage, ambient temperature, and forest range perimeter, but decreased with grass biomass. Overall, the decrease in HEC with grass biomass, and the increase in HEC with human settlement and forest range perimeter indicate that anthropogenic pressure that decreases the grass biomass and degrades the habitat is the likely root cause of HEC, and minimizing it would reduce overall HEC.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/22/3193crop damageecological covariateelephant electrocutiongrass biomasshuman casualtiesproperty damage |
| spellingShingle | Nagarajan Baskaran Selvarasu Sathishkumar Varadharajan Vanitha Mani Arjun Perumal Keerthi Nikshepan Goud Bandhala Unveiling the Hidden Causes: Identifying the Drivers of Human–Elephant Conflict in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India Animals crop damage ecological covariate elephant electrocution grass biomass human casualties property damage |
| title | Unveiling the Hidden Causes: Identifying the Drivers of Human–Elephant Conflict in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India |
| title_full | Unveiling the Hidden Causes: Identifying the Drivers of Human–Elephant Conflict in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling the Hidden Causes: Identifying the Drivers of Human–Elephant Conflict in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling the Hidden Causes: Identifying the Drivers of Human–Elephant Conflict in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India |
| title_short | Unveiling the Hidden Causes: Identifying the Drivers of Human–Elephant Conflict in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India |
| title_sort | unveiling the hidden causes identifying the drivers of human elephant conflict in nilgiri biosphere reserve western ghats southern india |
| topic | crop damage ecological covariate elephant electrocution grass biomass human casualties property damage |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/22/3193 |
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