HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT: TEMPORAL CHANGES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN THE TROPICAL FOREST OF SOUTHERN INDIA

Human-elephant conflict data were collected from 14 villages located in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve from Nov-2006 to Mar-2008. The locations of crop-raiding incidences were obtained using the GPS (Garmin e-trex). All the crop fields in a village with the owner of the land, land area, crop protection method, crops, planting months, fruit trees, and nearest water resources available within the village were located. The area of cultivation, the stage of the crop, and the proportion of damage were assessed quantitatively. The crop protection method, extent, and elephant damage were assessed.