Keny J Newport
The increasing demand of land for agriculture and development due to population growth has reduced the vast natural habitats of elephants considerably. Coconut, rice, areca palm, banana and cultivated bamboo are the crops most susceptible for raiding by the elephants. Now management of conflict between the elephant and human population has become the priority. Crop raiding by elephants has become a major concern in all Reserve Forests and Biosphere Reserves. Management of conflict involves a holistic approach of planting food and fodder liked by elephants in elephant habitat, plantation of crops that are not priority food for elephants in farm lands and also crop protection measures by involving the farming communities to reduce human elephant conflicts.
