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Assessing farm based measures for mitigating human elephant conflict in transmara District Kenya.

Sitati, Noah W., Walpole, Matthew J. (2006) Assessing farm based measures for mitigating human elephant conflict in transmara District Kenya. Oryx, 40 (3). pp. 279-286. ISSN 0030-6053. (doi:10.1017/S0030605306000834) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:10727)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0030605306000834

Abstract

Crop raiding by elephants is widespread across Africa and Asia. Although many traditional and novel methods are used to defend farms there have been few rigorous tests of their efficacy. We provide a comparative quantitative assessment of a range of farm-based mitigation methods implemented during a 4-year project in Transmara District, Kenya. Five experimental trials were established to measure changes in crop raiding after the application of mitigation methods on treatment farms compared with control farms. A combination of early warning to detect elephants before they entered farms, coupled with a front line communal guarding strategy, proved most successful. Non-electrified barriers were expensive and generally ineffective. However, chilli Capsicum spp. grease applied to rope barriers encircling farms completely deterred elephants. Although encouraging, these results require more widespread testing and demonstration to ensure their effectiveness at broader scales.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1017/S0030605306000834
Uncontrolled keywords: African elephant; crop raiding; human-wildlife conflict; Masai Mara; mitigation methods
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: C.G.W.G. van-de-Benderskum
Date Deposited: 11 Sep 2008 09:39 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:49 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/10727 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Walpole, Matthew J..

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