Agricultural and Biological Research

Spatio temporal patterns of human-elephant conflict and its economic costs in and around Chebra Churchura National Park, Southwestern Ethiopia

Adane Tsegaye*, Afework Bekele and Anagaw Atikem

An investigation on human-elephant conflict was carried out in Chebra Churchura National Park Ethiopia between March, 2021-2022. Data was collected from 6 Park adjacent villages (25%) (Chebra, Seri, Yora, Keribela, Menta and Gudumu). Actual measurements of the damages and estimation of the monetary value of the damage at local market was carried out. A total of 378 household samples 25% from 20 Park adjacent villages were identified for interview. The purpose of this investigation was to identify the spatial patterns of human-elephant conflict in the area. 95% of the total respondents from 3 Park adjacent villages ( Keribela, Menta and Gudumu) confirmed that they have never had any kind of conflict with the elephants while, 96% from the remaining three Park adjacent villages (Chebra, Seri and Yora) reported that they had severe human-elephant conflicts. A total of 378 respondents from the six villages were selected and measurements of the damages and estimation of the monetary value was made. Among the respondents 85.9% reported crop damage as the main cause of humanelephant conflict, while 4.8% reported loss of livestock and 4.6% reported effect on human life. Crop damages were mainly on banana, maize and yam. A total of 61 crop raid and 20 elephant attacks on humans and domestic animals were recorded with 7 human deaths in the study period. The majority of elephant attack 65% was against human followed by cattle (35%). The total annual loss of years 2020 and 2021 due to human elephant conflict was estimated at 12,452,120 ETB or USD 270,698 of which 12,399,619 ETB or USD 269,557 (99.5%) was from crop loss while only 52,500 ETB or USD 1,130 (0.5%) was due to loss of domestic animals. Total loss/household was estimated at 24, 805 ETB or 539.2 USD.