Occurrence and Level of Elephant Damage to Farms Adjacent to Mount Kenya Forests: Implications for Conservation

Abstract

Incidences of elephant’s crop raids in Mount Kenya area have escalated in the recent past causing considerable damage to the fragile local economy that is mainly peasant farming.  Studies on crop-raiding predisposing factors, nature and extent of the damage in this region are scanty. Thus, this was the aim of this study.  Data was obtained from questionnaires and occurrence books at Kenya Wildlife Service between 1997 – 2000.  Elephant movements were mapped in relationship to watering points and salt licks.  It was found that crop-raiding incidences by elephants were widely spread over the study area (80%, n = 487).  Crop damage severity was about 16.8 % of the expected yields.  Levels of crop damage were positively correlated to crop occurrence (r = 0.982, P = 0.01).  Thus, damage levels were substantive. Elephant’s crop-raids should stop.  Fencing off elephant from farmland will solve crop-raiding problems and enhance their conservation.

Keywords: Elephants crop-raiding, human-wildlife conflict, forest fragmentation, conservation area barriers