256
H. Dutta and A. Hazarika
3.2 Elephants of the Area in General
Perceived population size of elephants in Abhaypur Reserve Forest varied from 21
to 160. A significant majority (61.33%) stated that the total number of elephants
in the area ranged from 41 to 100, while according to some (25.33%) the elephant
population was below this range and others (13.33%) stated that the same was above
this range (χ
2
= 28.11, df = 2, p < 0.01). According to most of the respondents
(85%), the minimum herd size of conflict elephants was below ten; among these
26.56% and 17.19% stated that the smallest herd size was three and five respectively.
A majority (76%) opined that the maximum herd size ranged from 20 to 60; 21.05%,
17.54% and 15.79% of such people mentioned that the largest herd size of conflict
elephants was 25, 35 and 30 respectively. The most frequently observed conflict
elephant herd was two (30.67%) and three (25.33%).
Elephants were sighted in four sites; namely agricultural fields, human settlements, road sides and river bank. According to most (93.33%) of the respondents,
elephants were most frequently sighted in agricultural fields and all the respondents
unanimously stated that elephants were least observed in the river bank.
3.3 Depredation
All households (except one) had historical records (incidents that took place five
to ten years prior to the present study) of losses due to elephant depredation. In a
significant majority (49.33%), events of agricultural loss (χ
2
= 10.92, df = 2, p <
0.01) had occurred in the past, whereas property loss and human injury had taken
place in 30.67% and 18.67% respectively.
Human deaths and injuries had taken place in 6.67% and 13.33% of the surveyed
households respectively up to five years prior to the present study. The money spent
for the treatment of the injured varied between 500 and 8000 INR. Events of property
damage had occurred in 30.67% of the households during the same period. The
frequency of such incidents ranged from one to five per household. In a majority
(47.82%), a single event of property damage had taken place. The estimated economic
value of property loss ranged from 500 INR to 30,000 INR within this period. A
significant majority (78.26%) of the households suffered from losses between 2000
to 8000 INR (χ
2
= 21.48, df = 2, p < 0.01), whereas 17.39% and 4.35% suffered
from economic losses above and below this range respectively.
Throughout the same length of time, elephants raided agricultural fields in 45.33%
of the households, a majority (58.82%) of which lost between 0.26 to 0.99 acres of
cultivated area (area raided varied between 0.07 to 1.65 acres per household). Within
the duration of five years, a total area of 1.92 acres under paddy cultivation was raided,
which resulted in an overall production loss of 11,020 kg. This amounted to an average
loss of 324.12 ± 298.70 kg of paddy among the affected households. Production
loss was significantly correlated to the extent of area raided (r = 0.80, p < 0.05).
H. Dutta and A. Hazarika
3.2 Elephants of the Area in General
Perceived population size of elephants in Abhaypur Reserve Forest varied from 21
to 160. A significant majority (61.33%) stated that the total number of elephants
in the area ranged from 41 to 100, while according to some (25.33%) the elephant
population was below this range and others (13.33%) stated that the same was above
this range (χ
2
= 28.11, df = 2, p < 0.01). According to most of the respondents
(85%), the minimum herd size of conflict elephants was below ten; among these
26.56% and 17.19% stated that the smallest herd size was three and five respectively.
A majority (76%) opined that the maximum herd size ranged from 20 to 60; 21.05%,
17.54% and 15.79% of such people mentioned that the largest herd size of conflict
elephants was 25, 35 and 30 respectively. The most frequently observed conflict
elephant herd was two (30.67%) and three (25.33%).
Elephants were sighted in four sites; namely agricultural fields, human settlements, road sides and river bank. According to most (93.33%) of the respondents,
elephants were most frequently sighted in agricultural fields and all the respondents
unanimously stated that elephants were least observed in the river bank.
3.3 Depredation
All households (except one) had historical records (incidents that took place five
to ten years prior to the present study) of losses due to elephant depredation. In a
significant majority (49.33%), events of agricultural loss (χ
2
= 10.92, df = 2, p <
0.01) had occurred in the past, whereas property loss and human injury had taken
place in 30.67% and 18.67% respectively.
Human deaths and injuries had taken place in 6.67% and 13.33% of the surveyed
households respectively up to five years prior to the present study. The money spent
for the treatment of the injured varied between 500 and 8000 INR. Events of property
damage had occurred in 30.67% of the households during the same period. The
frequency of such incidents ranged from one to five per household. In a majority
(47.82%), a single event of property damage had taken place. The estimated economic
value of property loss ranged from 500 INR to 30,000 INR within this period. A
significant majority (78.26%) of the households suffered from losses between 2000
to 8000 INR (χ
2
= 21.48, df = 2, p < 0.01), whereas 17.39% and 4.35% suffered
from economic losses above and below this range respectively.
Throughout the same length of time, elephants raided agricultural fields in 45.33%
of the households, a majority (58.82%) of which lost between 0.26 to 0.99 acres of
cultivated area (area raided varied between 0.07 to 1.65 acres per household). Within
the duration of five years, a total area of 1.92 acres under paddy cultivation was raided,
which resulted in an overall production loss of 11,020 kg. This amounted to an average
loss of 324.12 ± 298.70 kg of paddy among the affected households. Production
loss was significantly correlated to the extent of area raided (r = 0.80, p < 0.05).