Conflictualité homme-éléphant et écotourisme au parc national Conkouati-Douli (PNCD), République du Congo

• Main Author: Mialoundama Bakouetila Gilles Freddy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Université des Antilles 2020-12-01
• Series: Études Caribéennes
• Subjects: conflict; man; elephant; tourism; PNCD
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/19502

The present study took place in 12 villages in Kouilou Department located in Conkouati Douli National Park. It attempts to shed light on the human – elephant conflict, the issue of sustainable elephant conservation and the issue of ecotourism in the conflict space. The methodology favored a qualitative survey of 150 people interviewed using an interview guide. The area in conflict is that of the PNCD eco-development zone. The main actors in the conflict are part of the local population and the managers of the PNCD.The damage to farms caused by forest elephants is enormous and this leads to the poaching of elephants, on the one hand, and the loss of human life by elephants on the other. Elephants devastate cassava more, followed by mango trees during the fruiting period; other cultures are less devastated. The presence of the elephant is seen as a misfortune for the local population, exposed to food insecurity. Elephant damage to fields is not always financially compensated.Alternatives such as putting up fences with peppers around fields or other elephant pushback techniques should be encouraged. An emblematic species, the elephant is one of the wildlife species at the centre of ecotourism at the PNCD. The community-development fund, intended to finance micro-projects for local populations, is supplied by 30% of tourism income. The promotion and good governance of ecotourism can contribute to local development and alleviate human-elephant conflict.