Human-elephant conflict: Identifying factors behind retaliatory killings of the National Heritage animal of India in terms of electrocution in a shared landscape

Abstract

Human–elephant conflict (HEC), because of its dynamic attributes, is a persistent problem across the distributional range of elephants in Asia and Africa, crippling elephant conservation and human development. Hence, a robust understanding of the issue became fundamental before initiating conservation initiatives. In this context, we investigated 25 retaliatory killings (by electrocution) cases of elephants (Elephas maximus) and assessed local's attitudes (209) in a shared landscape of India. Quantitative analysis was conducted to analyse electrocution trends, whereas binomial logistic regression was for local attitudes. Adults and sub-adult elephants were primarily victimised irrespective of their sex, particularly in the conflict hotspot areas during major cropping seasons. Despite the prevalence of human-elephant conflicts, most respondents (60%) had a positive attitude towards elephants. Concomitantly 54% were disappointed with forest officials, indicating that human-human conflict, rather than HEC, might play a significant role in impeding the conservation of endangered species in the shared landscape.