Battle between human and elephants: elephants’ trampling versus farmers’ chasing in the farming fields at the eastern surrounding of the Udawalawe national park: a biogeographical survey

Abstract

In Sri Lanka, more than 60 percent of the Elephants (Elephas maximus maximus) roam outside the National Parks. Chronic crop trampling including property damages by elephants and dangerous chasing techniques adapted by the farmers in the farming fields and also injuries and deaths to the elephants are common features of the Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC). The aim of this paper is to find the way elephants’ trampling of the crops and the farmers’ chasing techniques in the Eastern surrounding of the Udawalawe National Park (UNP) due to the battle between human and elephants. The field survey was carried out in December 2016 and April 2017 in 5 villages. Data were collected through questionnaire survey, personal interviews and group discussions and the respondents were selected with the use of purposive sampling technique. Among the selected farmers, twenty five percent was selected as sample for questionnaire survey. Besides, three interviews with farmers using structured questions, two key informant interviews with park officers and two focus groups discussions with farmers were conducted. 20% of the elephants usually break any sort of fences around the park and farmlands. Besides, selected 06 adult male elephants regularly lead the way in breaking the fences violently. 80% of the elephants come out of the park between19.00 and1.00. Among the respondents 99% complained of crop damages, while 56% of grains damages. When they trample they splash and smash the areas but the only remains are the crashes, chops of creepers and leaves with elephants’ dung. Among the respondents, 95% said that chasing them away when they feed themselves is miserable. 90% of the respondents said that they use shouting, lighting crackers and flashing lights as a collective effort.