Searching for solutions: The evolution of an integrated approach to understanding and mitigating human–elephant conflict in africa

Human–elephant conflict (HEC) is widespread in Africa and occurs across all biogeographical regions of the species range. HEC involves not only agricultural losses, but also a complex social dimension in the most affected sector, subsistence farming. Agricultural losses involve damage to food crops, cash crops, and even food in storage, with absorption of any loss at the individual household level. The associated social costs are intangible, difficult to quantify, and highly significant. Elephants are a convenient medium for widespread and persistent complaint from rural communities against wildlife conservation initiatives. HEC displays complex spatial dynamics across landscapes. Nearly a decade of investigation coordinated by the IUCN AfESG has revealed several key principles for HEC mitigation. The approach to dealing with this problem needs to be applied at a variety of management scales and is as much an art as a science. © Taylor & Francis Inc.