Data from: Infrared barriers as a detection tool to reduce human-elephant conflicts

Elephant incursions into farms represent an important challenge for local
communities and farmers living around protected areas, but also for the
long-term conservation of elephants. Early detection of elephants is a
promising technique to reduce elephant presence in farms and human
settlements reducing human elephant interactions. In this study we
investigated the potential of infrared barriers to detect African savannah
elephants (Loxodonta africana). We designed and tested battery-operated
photoelectric beam sensors in 12 locations of southern Tanzania and
assessed the elephant detection accuracy through camera trapping for a
total of 246 days. We obtained 1803 recordings of wildlife crossing the
barriers range (30 different species of mammals and several bird and bat
species). Our results show that infrared barriers, when located at
1.75-2.2 m high, detect 100% of adult elephants and ∼29% of subadult
elephants. Giraffes were the only other wildlife species detected by the
barriers. Interestingly, large vehicles were also detected, which might be
helpful to prevent motorized poaching. Given the gregarious behaviour of
elephant families, and the limited access for vehicles, infrared barriers
may represent an interesting and cost-effective detection system for early
warning strategies in elephant-dominated areas of Africa and Asia or for
other large-sized visitors.