Human-Elephant Conflict and its Impact on the Social Vulnerability of Subsistence Farmers in the Chure Terai Madhesh Landscape, Nepal

Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) mainly inhabit fragmented landscapes within their range and frequently clash with humans, rendering subsistence farmers socially vulnerable. However, the extent of this vulnerability in Nepal is not well understood. In this study, we explored the social aspects of human–elephant conflict (HEC) and its impact on subsistence farmers by interviewing 1,060 affected households in Nepal’s Chure Terai Madhesh Landscape. Data were analyzed using the Social Vulnerability Index based on the five capitals of the Sustainable Livelihood Framework. 60% of respondents perceived an increase in HEC. The most common impacts reported were crop damage (47%), property losses (38%), and human casualties (15%). Among the 19 districts studied, Bardia and Jhapa showed the highest exposure and sensitivity to HEC. Farming households faced moderate to high vulnerability to crop loss caused by elephants. Of the five livelihood capitals, physical capital was the most vulnerable, followed by financial capital; social and human capitals showed the lowest vulnerability. The greater vulnerability of financial and physical capital indicates a reduced adaptive capacity among subsistence farmers. We recommend implementing tailored mitigation strategies, such as physical barriers for protecting crops and property, improving financial support systems, and promoting community-based adaptation measures to diminish the vulnerability of affected subsistence farmers.