The Dynamics of Crop-Raiding Activity of African Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) at the Periphery of Mount Cameroon National Park, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Authors: Maurice MK*, Bumtu KP, Chembonui TE, Ayamba AJ, Mbi Arrabi EE, Nchang CS, Eyama AB and Nwah TV

DOI: 10.23880/izab-16000484

Volume 6, Issue 4

Abstract

Human-elephant conflict is common on cropland due to human encroachment into wildlife habitat, a serious conservation challenge in many countries in sub Saharan Africa. Though, a variety of conflict management strategies have been taken for mitigation, the impact is not much, crop-raiding is still increasingly alarming especially in mount Cameroon national park periphery due to increase in human settlement. The main objective of this study was to assess the crop-raiding activity of elephants in the national park. Data collection method was focused on sampling the affected village communities by monitoring the feeding and foraging activities of elephants on cropland. The research data collection was done for a period of four months, during this period, elephants were monitored and their feeding and foraging activities were recorded from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm on different cropland. However, the study revealed crop-raiding behavior of the elephants significant, X2 = 18.55 df=8 P=0.017, X2 = 17.64 df=8 P=0.024, X2 = 10.04 df=8 P<0.05, X2 = 9.10 df=8 P<0.05 on photo-period, landscape, elephant trails, and affected villages respectively. Maize (Zea mays) 30%, cassava (Manihot escaulenta) 24%, and banana (Musa acuminata) 21% were the most raided crops by the elephants, while oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) 15% and plantains (Musa sapientum) 10% were the least. More so, cropland destruction distance from human residence recorded a significance, X2 = 29.75 df=20 P<0.05, and X2 =46.34 df=10 P=0.000 on farm-size estimate, and the day-period respectively. The destruction of cropland by the elephants was done during the morning, afternoon, and evening periods respectively and the most frequent distance of destruction from human homes, above 100 meters recorded 28%, and 81-100 meters recorded 15% respectively. Though, the scale of destruction was rated low 51%, and high 34% respectively, it was still very high (15%) in some farms. Humanelephant conflict at the periphery of mount Cameroon national park can be mitigated with elephant translocation to other national parks within the country.

Keywords: Human-Elephant Conflict; Cropland; Foraging Activity; Village Communities

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