A temperatures variation favor human-elephant conflict in Gabon’s Lékédi National Park

Abstract

The purpose of the study, conducted from August 8th to 12th, 2022, in Gabon’s Lékédi National Park, was to assess elephant movement in relation to the availability of Moabi tree fruit. The goal was to understand the close connection between fluctuating temperatures and elephant movement toward human habitations. A questionnaire was utilized to gather insights from 53 individuals, primarily adults residing around Lékédi National Park. Statistical analysis of the collected data revealed a significant correlation between the percentage of individuals noticing changes in Moabi tree productivity and variations in mean annual temperature. The mean annual temperature had increased by +0.06°C over the two consecutive 5-year intervals between 2011 and 2020 (study period). The survey indicated that 56.6% of respondents perceived the Moabi fruit harvest as average in the last two years, and around 90% of people had witnessed their own or a relative’s field being devastated by elephants during the same period. Notably, 96.23% of respondents believed that present-day elephants are getting closer to human dwellings, compared to 3.77% who thought they were moving farther away. The lack of available Moabi fruit would encourage elephants to venture into secondary forests, thereby escalating the risk of human-elephant conflict.