As we contend with the increased instance-rates of Human-Elephant conflict in Africa, greater and more intelligently-crafted methods of alleviating pressure points in the relationship between humans and elephant are being created.
Following the unchecked poaching of elephant across Africa, most prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s, elephant populations dropped to a fraction of their early 20th century numbers. Today, however, increased protection for these icons of the savannah has resulted in a regrowth of elephant populations.
These rebounding elephant herds are increasingly pushing into territories, once fallow and part of their migratory routes, that are now home to agricultural smallhold landowners. These elephant and the peoples they encounter are increasingly coming into conflict.
In the past, elephant and human beings were often able to peaceably coexist in these sorts of territories. However, changes to human behaviour have made this relationship more fractious. Increasingly, humans that live alongside wildlife are turning to agriculture where in the past they might have focussed on a pastoral mode of existence.
There is much to be gained in living a life that subsists off of agriculture. It can be considered more stable and more rewarding in terms of output generated for energy spent. There is, however, no question that it brings the humans who foster it into greater contact with the worst elements of an elephant’s behaviour.
Human-elephant conflict often plays itself out as humans look to protect life-giving crops from an elephant’s powers of destruction. The resulting conflict can, and has, ended lives.
Can agriculture be adapted to deter elephant while still serving the humans that live off it?
One of the big questions facing elephant conservationists is whether agriculture can be organised to serve those that depend upon it while also limiting the avenue for conflict with elephant.
So, in this article we will explore some of the suggestions presently being explored on this front.
Certain agriculture-based elephant deterrents, such as chilli-covered fences have had limited testing by researchers. The results, perhaps shaped by the limited nature of this testing, have been inconclusive. Certain tests demonstrated some reduction to elephant raiding. Others showed no effectiveness.
Much has been made of the use of chilli on fences as an elephant deterrent. The sensitivity of an elephant’s sense of smell has been linked with the creatures’ extreme dislike for chillis and chilli powder.
However, as has been stated, research done in the early 2010s suggests that these fences cannot be verifyingly proven to arrest the encroachment of elephant. What’s more, using chilli powders as a fence covering can be financially prohibitive to certain smallhold farmers.
Another agricultural method presently being considered for its efficacy in deterring elephant is the interspersing of certain crops that are unpalatable to elephant within and amongst the sustenance crops that are often farmed alongside the wild spaces in which elephant roam.
Crops such as chamomile, coriander, mint, ginger, onion, garlic, lemongrass and citric fruits have been shown to deter elephant. There is some research presently being done into the efficacy of growing these crops amongst others that are necessary for human subsistence but favoured by elephant.
There is some optimism in this line of research. Part of that optimism comes from the fact that it reduces the need for fences and therefore does not contribute to the further fragmentation of wild animals’ habitats. There is more optimism in that this method might benefit farmers in that it diversifies their sellable produce.
However, there has been some concern that these crops, which are most often best-categorised as cash crops, are also beyond the financial viability of small-scale farmers. There is also some concern that these crops are only effective as deterrents when they reach fruiting adulthood. They are therefore likely to be trampled, and ineffective as deterrents, in their juvenile growth.
Presently, and unfortunately, the research into, and demonstrable efficacy of bending agriculture to both benefit humanity and deter elephant is limited. There is, still, optimism, however. Research continues in this area and it is obvious to see why.
An agriculture-based deterrent will dissuade elephant without exciting them, as percussion-based deterrents do. Percussive deterrents occasionally agitate elephant and lead them toward greater aggression. Agricultural methods can also be shaped so as not to be overly damaging to existing habitats.
So, the hope remains even if, at the present, results are inconclusive.