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teau has been intensively used by 100-120 elephants which contigu- ous with elephant populations in the surrounding Protected Areas. The natural vegetation in the form of rainforest fragments and river- ine patches, occupying less than one percent of the plateau, act as refuges for elephants. The juxtaposition of commercial plantations and natural vegetation with a human density of 455/km2 in widely scattered habitations became the source for human-elephant con- flict on the Valparai plateau.
The unique geographical position of the plateau with interspersing plantations, rainforest fragments, and residential places, it is inevita- ble for both humans and elephants to share resources.
Human-elephant conflict
The primary issue in human-elephant conflict is loss of human lives due to elephants besides damage to buildings which store food grains such as rice, sugar, salt, and lentils.
A. Human deaths due to elephants
Loss of life/injury due to elephant elicited fear, trauma, and anger in local people towards elephants in the Valparai region. Between 1994-2020, 47 people have lost their lives in direct encounters with elephants. Majority of fatal incidents occurred on roads when people walked between workplace and home. Though there were no pat- terns in the occurrence of deaths in relation to time of the day, but 30 of 47 cases (64%) occurred in a three month period between Decem- ber and January, indicating a peak conflict period on the plateau. In 37 of 47 cases (64%) people were unaware of elephant presence and their movements in their surroundings in plantations.
B. Property damage by elephants
Unlike in many other landscapes, there is no crop damage by ele- phants but damage to buildings which store food grains such as ra- tion shops, noon-meal centres, and residential places which has been a cause of concern on the Valparai plateau. Incidents of property damage by elephants varied annually ranging from 150 incidents in 2011 - 2012 to 68 damages in 2019-2020. A majority of property dam- ages occurred between October and February, a period of high ele- phant movement on the plateau.
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