Cropping pattern and the human elephant conflict in South India

Abstract

newline Conservation of biodiversity is pivotal to the survival of mankind. The pastfew decades have registered several conservation efforts by various national andinternational bodies and governments which has helped the recovery of endangeredspecies. However, one of its negative consequences of conservation success is theincrease in human-wildlife conflict, which has become a major threat to conservationitself. Human-elephant conflict in South India is a major problem which significantlyaffects the present wild elephant population and its future. The humans and elephantsare two very similar species in their intelligence, social organisation and as a resultcompete for the same landscape, water source, forest and vegetation; probably, sincethe time humans started cultivating crops. The food crops cultivated adjacent to theforest boundary have been a cause for conflict between elephants and humans.