Investigating geospatial patterns of elephant crop damage adjacent to the Serengeti National Park and Grumeti Game Reserve, Tanzania

Abstract

We investigated a spatial configuration of human-elephant interactions in communities bordering the Serengeti National Park and Grumeti Game Reserve. Elephant crop damage was the most common adverse impact of the interactions. Geographic information systems were used to assess the distribution, hot and coldspots and relationships of elephant crop damage and environmental features in the Bunda District, Tanzania. Six hotspots and three coldspots were identified. Of all elephant crop damage incidents, 66% occurred in the wider village areas bordering Grumeti Game Reserve, 28% in the wider village areas bordering the Serengeti National Park and 6% in village areas that did not border the protected areas. There was a high concentration of elephant crop damage near rivers and protected areas, which decreased with increased geographical distance from the edge of these features.