An initial study on habitat conservation of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), with a focus on human elephant conflict in Simao, China

The impact of the Asian elephant, Elephas maximus, on the rural agricultural economy in the Simao region of Yunnan province, China, was assessed from 1996 to 2000. Elephants were responsible for large-scale crop and property damage, which caused serious human-elephant conflicts in the region. Attempts were made to reduce the conflicts, by building man-made salt ponds in the forest, digging trenches to protect farmland, as well as governmental compensation. An integrated community development and elephant habitat conservation project is in practice in Simao. It is focused to support rural development of the economy and to promote social tolerance to damage caused by elephants. The community-based conservation efforts played an important role in efforts to solve the human-elephant conflicts.