Temporal determinants of human–elephant conflict in Victoria Falls

Abstract

This study established the temporal determinants of human-elephant conflict in Victoria Falls town, Hwange West communal area and the resettlement areas of Don Rovin, Mubiya and Kalala. Interviews were the main instruments adopted for the study. Results indicate that, elephants which cause conflict in Hwange communal areas come from the Fuller forest concession area. During the cropping season elephants come to this area to raid food crops. The elephants stay in the Fuller forest during the day. As night falls elephants wait until it gets dark, then enter human settlements where they cause different human-elephant conflict manifestations. During the day, elephants seek refuge in the protected areas where they avoid contact with people. People in the area sleep in fields guarding crops to prevent elephants raids. During the dry season elephants come to drink water from the perrenial streams in the Hwange communal area. The riparian vegatation and fruits in the perrernial streams also attract elephants to the communal areas. Elephants are attracted to these areas during the dry season by the availability food and water. The perrenials streams sustain fruits such as savanna dwala berry, monkey finger and wild medra. Mopane and acacia vegetation which is elephants's favourite also attract elephants to this area during the dry season. The bark of mopane trees is eaten by elephants during the dry season. Elephants opportunistically raid crops from fields at the fringes of rivers when they enter the settlements. Some elephants also hide in the forest remnants and attack people during the night. It is therefore recommended that there is need for participation of all stakeholders such as scientists, elephant managers, policy makers and local communities in addressing the issues of human-elephant conflict effectively.