Marginal farmers carry the burden of damage caused by Asian elephantsElephas maximusin Bardiya National Park, Nepal

• DOI: 10.1017/s0030605319001431
• Publication Date: 2021-05-26T05:05:41Z
• Authors: Herbert H.T. Prins; Yorick Liefting; Joost F. de Jong
• Keywords: Buffer zone

Abstract In areas where farmland borders protected areas, wildlife may be attracted to crops and cause substantial financial damage for farmers. Elephants, in particular, can destroy a year's harvest single night, also buildings other farm structures. Few studies have examined whether caused by wild elephants increases social inequalities farmer communities. We interviewed settlement leaders subsistence rice farmers living the buffer zone of Bardiya National Park, Nepal, examine (1) variation spatial distribution wealth within community, (2) severity spatio-temporal inflicted Asian Elephas maximus , (3) willingness insure against such damage. investigated particular societal strata are disproportionally affected negative interactions with elephants. found that near boundary between agricultural wilderness were significantly poorer had smaller landholdings than those further into cultivated lands. Concomitantly, houses was more frequent nearer wilderness–agriculture away from it. Hence, wilderness–cultivation boundary, small landholdings, relatively higher cost elephant damage, yet less willing pay an insurance scheme. infer both inequality spatially structured, conservation success economic hardship local particularly class. discuss causes current lack communal mitigation measures potential solutions.