Conflits homme-éléphant autour de la Forêt Classée du Haut Sassandra (Côte d'Ivoire)

Abstract

Complaints regarding crop damage in the area surrounding Haut-Sassandra FR in western Ivory Coast were cause for this 1995 study involving questionnaires and on site crop damage assessment. Located along the Tiemba, a tributary of the Sassandra River, the Reserve is the largest of several protected areas which provide elephant range and habitat to move within thoughout much of the year. Crop destruction near the Reserve boundaries occurs, for the most part, during the dry season (December through February). The main food crops destroyed were taro, banana, casava, pineapple and yam, but cocoa which is a cash crop also suffered. The damage itself was not extensive. Only about 5% of the farmers income was affected in 1995, but the destruction angers the people and has caused some killing of elephants. Research suggests that if something is not done to lessen the conflict the problem will escalate. Recommendations include: development of permanent water sources in the forest, assistance to farmers in making their fields safer from destruction and/or assistance in moving their field locations, further studies into the movement or possible migration of the elephant between the forest reserves or protected areas.