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

We examined the extent of human-elephant conflict in the area between Amboseli, Chyulu Hills and Tsavo West National Parks in south-western Kenya.Standardized questionnaire interviews administered to 880 residents showed that crop farming has intensified in the last 3 to 10 years, with many Maasai people practising crop farming, a departure from their traditional pastoral lifestyle.Incidents of crop damage by wildlife were common and elephants were reported as the most problematic animal.Incidents of elephant crop raiding were high in the dry season and at night, linked to the wetlands, with bull groups being the dominant crop raiders.Incidence of elephant crop raiding in areas under electric fences was significantly low.Elephants preferred maize (Zea mays), a crop farmers consider the most important for their livelihood.Elephants caused few livestock deaths and injuries.Among the households interviewed, 6% had had a family member killed or injured by elephants between 1999 and 2004, and elephants had caused more deaths and injuries than other wildlife species.Residents' perceptions on the importance of having elephants within the area were highly negative.The patterns of attitude towards elephants were associated with the residents' ethnic background, gender, form of land use, benefits accrued from wildlife, level of elephant crop damage, and response of the wildlife authority to problem-elephant reports.