Analyse Human-Elephant Conflicts, Rate Efficiency of Counter Measures, Assess Human Perception and Conduct Advocacy Programs on Elephant Conservation in Bhutan

Tshering Kencho

To analyse human-elephant conflicts, rate efficiency of counter measures, assess human perception and conduct advocacy programs on elephant conservation in Bhutan.

Assessing the effectiveness of solar panel, energizer and battery.

Assessing the effectiveness of solar panel, energizer and battery.

The conservation of last elephant occurrences becomes increasingly a challenge in any agrarian populated country, where crop raiding and property damages is an increasing issue. In Bhutan, with only a minor and more mobile elephant population, according conflicts are only a more recent but an increasing problem. The settlements are located in close proximity to forest and farmer’s irrevocable dependence on food crops and livestock’s, the human wildlife conflicts has become a prime factor of concern. Further, with current development pace, human-wildlife conflicts is likely to increase due to extensive habitat encroachment and fragmentation. This can further pose threat to both wildlife and people in rural areas. Guarding which is mostly done at night, cost farmer’s untold hardships, additional expenses and possible personal injury (Choden and Namgay 1996). This often results in a strong negative attitude towards elephant posing more conservation threats (Hoare, 1999).

Royal Government of Bhutan is implementing preventive measures and management strategies such as electric fencing, alternative crop cultivation, and use of audio-visual deterrents and planting of buffer species to mitigate the Human-elephant conflict (NCD, 2008). It is however not known that which among mitigation measures is attesting to be a most promising one in the field.

This study through questionnaire-based information will help in understanding the types and extent of damages caused by elephants in southern Bhutan. It will also help in garnering vital information on effectiveness offset technologies in reducing the conflict. The intensity of crop damage and difference in incidences in an area with and without offset technologies will also be determined through this study. This will aid in garnering vital information for devising science based management for both livelihood and conservation.

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