Assessment of economic cost of human/elephant conflict in Tsavo conservation area, Kenya

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the economics of damage to crops and infrastructure, injuries and loss of life at the human-elephant interface within Tsavo Conservation Area between 2010 and 2013. Data was generated from the Kenya Wildlife Service occurrence data base. A total of 488 cases with complete data were extracted. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was used in data analysis. The study established that zones with a higher incidence of conflict were proximate to the park and near main water points. Crop damage was the most (83%) prominent reason for human-elephant conflict. Others were property destruction (8%), human injuries (5%) and human deaths (4%). Crop damage occurred more often during wet seasons than dry seasons. Correlation analyses showed that the size of land was significantly associated with the value of the crop destroyed, with mean land size being 0.7 (+/- 0.99) acres. This was equivalent to 984,254 kg of crop yields over four years with an average of 246 063.71 (+/- 21 288) kg/annum. The main crop destroyed was maize, planted as a single crop. The majority (76%) of those affected were small holders with less than 0.7acres and they practiced subsistence farming. Men were the only gender killed by elephants (n=21), although both sexes were injured (n=24). In total, 40 incidents recorded damage to buildings and infrastructure. The value of crop damage, human injuries and deaths was Kenyan shillings 32,618,500 over the four year study period. It is recommended that the government should reduce human/elephant interaction in Tsavo Conservation Area by erecting an electric fence around the park, involving the community and compensating them for the entire cost of the loss incurred due to elephants from the Park.