Understanding Human-Elephant Conflict in Sarpang, Bhutan

Bhutan’s Sarpang District suffers from severe human-elephant conflict (HEC) as it is surrounded on all sides by national parks, a wildlife sanctuary and a forest reserve. Frequent crop-raiding by elephants leading to food and income loss, property damage, and human injuries and death has created community animosity towards elephants. This project aims to enhance harmonious coexistence with elephants through creating an HEC distribution map, identifying hotspots, and evaluating HEC damage in order to inform conservation actions. These findings will be shared with local stakeholders and community members along with HEC mitigation techniques in order to change negative perceptions among people and increase tolerance towards elephants.

IEF #1045

Project Years: 2023

Project Partners:
Division Forest Office Bhutan