Linking crop availability, forest elephant visitation and perceptions of human–elephant interactions in villages bordering Ivindo National Park, Gabon

A study reveals that forest elephant visits to rural villages near Gabon's Ivindo National Park are strongly linked to local crop availability, though this pattern varies among individuals. Using GPS tracking data from two elephants and surveys of 101 farmers across seven villages, researchers found a positive correlation between crop planting/harvesting cycles and elephant visitation, driven primarily by one individual. Local perceptions of elephant behavior aligned with empirical data, with crops (53%) and logging (39%) cited as key attractants. Farmers proposed solutions like government intervention (32%), lethal removal (30%), or compensation (22%). The findings highlight the complexity of predicting human-elephant interactions and underscore the need for targeted research in high-conflict zones, while also exploring the feasibility of proposed mitigation strategies.

Mbamy, W., Beirne, C., Froese, G. Z. L., Obiang Ebanega, M., & Poulsen, J. R. (2023). Linking crop availability, forest elephant visitation and perceptions of human–elephant interactions in villages bordering Ivindo National Park, Gabon. Oryx, 58(2), 261–268. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605323000704