Conflicts between elephants and humans are not very often published but they can and do happen, and a lot more frequently than most people would believe.

Groups of scientists that track elephants using GPS collars have found out more about these conflicts where elephants will attack in herd and humans will retaliate by trying to kill the animals and their young.

So, what are the main reasons for these conflicts?

Forest are being cleared to make way for new development.

Elephants need around 150 – 200 sq km for what is known as their ‘home range’. If this starts to get smaller the elephants will start to react to what is going on around them. This range is suitable for more than one group as they will all move around as the seasons change.

Elephants, females in particular, will die within this range which is why the groups are so protective of them.

When humans settle in an area they might try to clear an area of forest to plant crops. These are very inviting to a group of elephants and they will soon be working their way through them.

Often from this a group of elephants will then start raiding homes looking for more tasty food. This is another reason that conflicts can start as people are trying to protect their land and their crops.

Illegal coffee plantations are another source of conflict. These are often created in areas where elephants have lived, undisturbed for many years.

When a coffee plantation is being created the elephants will feel displaced and will start to make their feelings known. Once again this leads to conflict which can lead to the deaths of some of the elephants.

In short the main reason for conflict between elephants and humans is the clearing of forests and changing the elephants’ habitat. If they are left alone in forests that they have lived in for many years they pose no threat to humans at all.