An Evaluation of Deterrent Methods Utilized to Prevent Crop Raiding by African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) in the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor, Kenya
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Escalating human elephant conflict (HEC) continues to be a contributing factor towards elephant decline, and crop raiding is the most common form of negative human-elephant interactions. For communities that cannot reverse or prevent crop raiding, it is necessary to contain HEC events through deterrent measures. Few deterrent measures exist that combine practicality and affordability while also preventing habituation by elephants. This project focused on comparing the efficacy of deterrent methods to assess which was the most successful at preventing elephants from entering crops in the farming community of Sasenyi, Kenya. In this paired-control study, four deterrent methods were evaluated: acacia fences, chili-pepper fences, a new metal strip fence, and a combination of a chili and metal strip fence. Of the over 400 visits by elephants to individual fields containing crops recorded during two field seasons, elephants entered farmer fields in the experimental area on 33 occasions (<10%). Analysis of incidents when elephants approached at less than 50 m revealed that the chili + metal fence and the metal fence were significantly more effective than no deterrent. Following further verification of its effectiveness, this new deterrent method could be a powerful new tool to alleviate elephant crop raiding and reduce HEC.
Author: Von Hagen, Rebecca Lynn
Institution: Western Kentucky University
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7028577601