A systematic map of research on the conflict between humans and African savannah elephants

Globally, human population growth and unequal resource use are driving land use change, exacerbating resource competition between wildlife and people. Managing wide-ranging species with large dietary requirements including the African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) is especially challenging, with conflict over space and resources threatening conservation and human well-being. We systematically mapped peer-reviewed and grey literature to describe the evidence on conflict between people and African savannah elephants, identifying 136 eligible studies from 14,239 potential records. We determined temporal and spatial patterns in research effort, characterised the literature and described the conflict management interventions evaluated. Research effort was geographically uneven, with no studies identified in 13 of 24 range countries. Kenya and Tanzania accounted for 58% of the research, a frequency not explained by proportion of elephant range or elephant population density of either country, suggesting research effort may be influenced by other factors. Most studies focused on impacts of conflict on humans (89%), particularly crop damage (79%). Twenty-one different metrics for measuring conflict were recorded, most common was conflict event frequency (61%). Management interventions were evaluated in 55 studies across nine countries. Technical strategies (89%), including barriers and guarding, were the most commonly evaluated, followed by social strategies (20%) including promoting human behaviour change. The systematic map shows a growing body of human-elephant conflict literature that is uneven in geographic scope and the management interventions evaluated. Priorities for future research include broadening geographical coverage, applying socio-ecological systems frameworks, adopting standardised metrics for measuring conflict, and critically appraising management interventions.