Root Causes for Human Elephant Conflict in Maduragama and Nelumewa villages in Puttalam

 

Service Learning-Group B

Human elephant conflicts 

Mitigating actions?Electric fencesBio fences & etc 

Are they working?

2009 2010 2011 2012 201305

101520253035404550

Human DeathsElephant DeathsNumber of houses destroyed

Then what is the correct action to stop these conflicts?

Map of the location

Nelumwewa.                                  Maduragama. 

Main sources ofincome

Agriculture

Brick industry

Coir Industry

Sand mining

Firewood collecting

Methodology

1. Taking advice from the resource persons in  the university 

2. Literature survey3. Attending to a conference  conducted on     

HEC 4. Questionnaire Survey5. Field Visits

 

Field Trips and Interviewing Different Personnel.

                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Survey

                                          Forum                                                         Visited relevant places                                                                                                               like electric fence                                                                                                                 around the plant.                                                                                                                                                                                                

Data analysis of the questionnaire surveyRoot causes according to villagers perception.

4%

31%

31%

26%

8%

Maduragama

Elephant pass are blocked by hu-man activities 

Habitat loss and fragmentation of elephants

Shortage of food  in the jungle for elephants

Shortage of wa-ter in the jungle for elephants

Elephants like to feed on human cultivated crops

1%

23%

22%

17%

36%

Nelumwewa

Elephant passes are blocked by human activities

Habitat loss and fragmentation of elephants

Shortage of food  in the jungle for elephants

Shortage of  wa-ter in the jungle for elephants

Elephants like human culti-vated crops

 Recognized rootsHuman population increase rapidly

People invade elephants’ habitat

Elephants face habitat loss and fragmentation

Leads shortage of food , water , space and blockade of elephant passes.

Elephants approach human settlements to fulfill their hunger and thirst

Elephants feed on crops and stored food

Gradually they get addicted

People try to chase

Elephants get hurt 

They develop fear mixed anger towards humans

Then start attacking people

 

Solutions for the current situation,Electric fence around each village Proper maintenance of the electric fenceIntroducing alternative sources of income except agriculture•  Maduragama –To stop attraction of elephants

• Nelumwewa– To stop people disturbing the elephant habitat