Wild elephants vary in their attraction to novelty across an anthropogenic landscape gradient

Research on how wild animals respond to novelty is becoming more relevant as the overlap between natural habitats and human-dominated landscapes increases. Wild Asian elephants spend more time in anthropogenic landscapes as their habitat is converted to agriculture. Greater neophilia and exploration may allow elephants to successfully access agricultural resources, which may cause negative interactions with people. We compared wild elephant reactions to novel objects in two different landscapes in Thailand (near agriculture and deep inside a protected sanctuary). We also assessed consistency in measures for individuals exposed to different objects to determine whether their reactions could be considered personality traits. Elephants tested near agriculture were more neophilic and exploratory than those inside the sanctuary. However, the limited sample of elephants exposed to both novel objects did not demonstrate consistency in their reactions, and thus, we could not determine whether n..., Behavioral data were coded using Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software from camera trap videos, and measures were extracted from the codes., , # Wild elephants vary in their attraction to novelty across an anthropogenic landscape gradient

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gtht76hxc](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gtht76hxc)

## Description of the data and file structure

These data describe wild elephant reactions to novel objects in two different landscapes in Thailand (near agriculture and inside a protected sanctuary). Videos of elephant movement within a 10 m perimeter of the objects and interactions with the objects were recorded by camera traps. Elephant behaviors were coded from the videos to assess measures of neophilia and exploration. 

### Files and variables

#### File: baselinecomp.csv

**Description:** This dataset was used to compare elephant behavior between baseline (only cameras and perimeter markers present in environment) and novel object conditions (either cattle brush or firehose present) for the 43 elephants who were observed in both baseline and novel object conditions at the same site.

##### Variables

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