Abstract
Attacks on humans by Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is an extreme form
of Human-elephant conflict. It is a serious issue in southern lowland
Nepal where elephants kill more humans than any other wildlife. Detailed
understanding of elephant attacks on humans in Nepal is still lacking
which affected in devising appropriate strategies and actions for human
elephant conflict mitigation. This study documented spatio-temporal
pattern of elephant attacks on humans, factors associated with the
attacks and human/elephant behaviour contributing to deaths of victims
when attacked. We compiled all the documented incidences of elephant
attacks on humans in Nepal for last 20 years across Terai and Siwalik
region of Nepal. We also visited and interviewed 412 victim families
(274 fatalities and 138 injuries) on elephant attacks. Majority of the
victims were males (87.86%) and had low level of education. One fourth
of the elephant attacks occurred while chasing the elephants. Solitary
bulls or group of sub-adult males were involved in most of the attack.
We found higher number of attacks outside the protected area. People who
were drunk and chasing elephants using fire-crackers were more
vulnerable to the fatalities. In contrast, chasing elephants using fire
was negatively associated to the fatalities. Elephant attacks were
concentrated in proximity of forests primarily affecting the
socio-economically marginalized communities. Integrated settlement, safe
housing for marginalized community and community grain house in the
settlement should be promoted to reduce the confrontation between
elephants and humans. Conservation of elephant should be carried out in
entire landscape, extending beyond the boundary of protected areas to
reduce threats of elephant extinction.