Our study site, the Kodagu-Hassan region of Karnataka, encompasses a geographical gradient of forest fragmentation and land use as well as elephant populations. At one end of the continuum is a large elephant population in the intact Nagarhole National Park while on the other is an isolated population ranging freely in human-dominated areas and in serious conflict with people, primarily in the form of crop raids. The source of such conflict is likely ingrained in factors such as habitat fragmentation and degradation, altered landuse patterns, proximity of nutritionally-rich cultivated crops and seasonal variation in resources. Another key issue that remains to be understood is the relationship between conflict and stress levels in the animal. With diminishing elephant habitat, physiological stress among wild elephants is expected to increase. Chronic physiological stress in elephants could in turn create a positive feedback loop that leads to increased conflict. Our study aims to identify correlations between stress and conflict in the context of crop raiding behavior. We would address questions such as, does elevated stress increase conflict and if yes then could addressing the drivers of stress help in alleviating conflict? Is the crop raiding behavior of elephants obligatory or opportunistic? Moreover, our project would be the first study to establish the baselines for stress levels in Asian elephants across a gradient of seasonality and habitat fragmentation.

We plan to use non-invasive analyses of fecal samples to assess the levels of glucocorticoid (stress) hormone metabolites collected during dry and wet seasons, from intact and fragmented habitats, as well as from crop raid sites. A comparison of stress levels between crop raiders and non raiders; crop raiders in fragmented vs crop raiders in intact habitats; crop raiders vs non raiders within fragmented habitats; and between crop raiders vs non raiders within intact habitats; would help reveal the physiological responses of Asian elephants to their altered natural habitat.

Conflict mitigation measures so far have mostly focused on developing deterrents for crop-raiding but with limited and ephemeral success. A deeper understanding of the causes of conflict, including an understanding of stress as a possible driver of conflict in Asian elephants would be crucial for devising effective long lasting mitigation measures. Our findings would provide valuable insights on whether management policies should attempt to reduce conflict by minimizing the overlap of human activities in elephant habitats or designing land use patterns that allow coexistence of elephants and humans.